The Importance of the Qur’an and Sunnah and Their Interrelation
A common objection arises from the Qur’anic verse:
"اتَّبِعُوا مَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكُم مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا مِن دُونِهِ أَوْلِيَاءَ"
(Al-Aʿrāf: 7:3)
“Follow what has been revealed to you from your Lord, and do not follow any protectors besides Him.”
Based on this verse, it is argued: Why should anything other than the Qur’an be followed?
It is indeed accurate that wherever the phrase "مَا أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ" (what Allah has revealed) is mentioned in the Qur’an, it refers to the “Book,” “Reminder,” or “Furqān.” In those contexts, “what Allah has revealed” indeed refers to the Qur’an.
However, the Qur’an also clearly states that along with the Book, wisdom (Ḥikmah) was revealed to the Prophet ﷺ.
❖ "وَأَنزَلَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ وَعَلَّمَكَ مَا لَمْ تَكُن تَعْلَمُ"
(An-Nisāʾ: 113)
“And Allah has revealed to you the Book and the Wisdom and taught you what you did not know.”
❖ "وَاذْكُرُوا نِعْمَتَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ وَمَا أَنزَلَ عَلَيْكُم مِّنَ الْكِتَابِ وَالْحِكْمَةِ"
(Al-Baqarah: 231)
“And remember Allah’s favor upon you and what He has revealed to you of the Book and the Wisdom.”
❖ "وَاذْكُرْنَ مَا يُتْلَىٰ فِي بُيُوتِكُنَّ مِنْ آيَاتِ اللَّهِ وَالْحِكْمَةِ"
(Al-Aḥzāb: 34)
“And remember what is recited in your homes of the verses of Allah and the Wisdom.”
These verses make it evident that the Prophet ﷺ was given not only the Book (Qur’an) but also Ḥikmah (wisdom), which he imparted to the people.
✔ The Prophet ﷺ manifested Ḥikmah through his sayings, actions, and practical example.
✔ The Ummah was gifted not only with the Qur’an but also the wisdom revealed to the Prophet ﷺ.
The Qur’an commands us to follow "what has been revealed by Allah," which includes both the Book and the Ḥikmah. Hence, following the Qur’an and following the Prophet ﷺ are not contradictory but rather integrated.
❖ "اتَّبِعُوا مَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكُم مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ"
(Al-Aʿrāf: 7:3)
“Follow what has been revealed to you from your Lord.”
❖ "قُلْ إِن كُنتُمْ تُحِبُّونَ اللَّهَ فَاتَّبِعُونِي يُحْبِبْكُمُ اللَّهُ"
(Āl ʿImrān: 31)
“Say: If you love Allah, then follow me; Allah will love you.”
This question is clearly addressed within the Qur’an itself: The Prophet ﷺ was also given rulings through revelation apart from the Qur’an.
❖ "وَمَا آتَاكُمُ الرَّسُولُ فَخُذُوهُ وَمَا نَهَاكُمْ عَنْهُ فَانتَهُوا"
(Al-Ḥashr: 7)
“Whatever the Messenger gives you, take it; and whatever he forbids you from, abstain from it.”
❖ "الَّذِينَ يَتَّبِعُونَ الرَّسُولَ النَّبِيَّ الْأُمِّيَّ"
(Al-Aʿrāf: 156–157)
“Those who follow the Messenger, the unlettered Prophet...”
The objection that the law of the Book of Allah was incomplete is entirely based on a misunderstanding.
In legislative frameworks, it is a general principle that the supreme legislator provides foundational laws and delegates implementation and elaboration to a subordinate authority or individual.
✔ The Qur’an outlines general rulings and principles.
✔ The Prophet ﷺ was delegated authority to clarify and execute those rulings.
❖ "وَأَنزَلْنَا إِلَيْكَ الذِّكْرَ لِتُبَيِّنَ لِلنَّاسِ مَا نُزِّلَ إِلَيْهِمْ"
(An-Naḥl: 44)
“And We revealed the Reminder to you so that you may clarify for the people what has been sent down to them.”
✔ Ṣalāh (Prayer): The Qur’an provides general commands regarding prayer, but the times, units (rakʿāt), and method were explained by the Prophet ﷺ.
✔ Zakāh (Charity): The Qur’an commands zakāh, but its threshold (niṣāb) and rates were detailed by the Prophet ﷺ.
✔ Ḥajj (Pilgrimage): The Qur’an makes ḥajj obligatory, but the rituals (manāsik) were taught by the Prophet ﷺ.
✔ Ṭahārah (Purification): The Qur’an commands cleanliness, but wudū, ghusl, and istinjā were practically explained by the Prophet ﷺ.
◈ The Qur’an and Sunnah are not separate from each other.
◈ The Sunnah is the detailed explanation and practical interpretation of the Qur’an.
◈ The sayings and actions of the Prophet ﷺ are clarifications of divine commandments, executed under delegated authority mentioned in the Qur’an.
◈ Following the Qur’an inherently includes following the Prophet ﷺ, as both contain commands revealed by Allah.
❖ Objection: “Why Follow Only the Qur’an?”
A common objection arises from the Qur’anic verse:
"اتَّبِعُوا مَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكُم مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا مِن دُونِهِ أَوْلِيَاءَ"
(Al-Aʿrāf: 7:3)
“Follow what has been revealed to you from your Lord, and do not follow any protectors besides Him.”
Based on this verse, it is argued: Why should anything other than the Qur’an be followed?
❖ Response: The Qur’an and Wisdom (Ḥikmah)
It is indeed accurate that wherever the phrase "مَا أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ" (what Allah has revealed) is mentioned in the Qur’an, it refers to the “Book,” “Reminder,” or “Furqān.” In those contexts, “what Allah has revealed” indeed refers to the Qur’an.
However, the Qur’an also clearly states that along with the Book, wisdom (Ḥikmah) was revealed to the Prophet ﷺ.
❖ The Qur’an’s Verses on the Book and Wisdom
❖ "وَأَنزَلَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ وَعَلَّمَكَ مَا لَمْ تَكُن تَعْلَمُ"
(An-Nisāʾ: 113)
“And Allah has revealed to you the Book and the Wisdom and taught you what you did not know.”
❖ "وَاذْكُرُوا نِعْمَتَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ وَمَا أَنزَلَ عَلَيْكُم مِّنَ الْكِتَابِ وَالْحِكْمَةِ"
(Al-Baqarah: 231)
“And remember Allah’s favor upon you and what He has revealed to you of the Book and the Wisdom.”
❖ "وَاذْكُرْنَ مَا يُتْلَىٰ فِي بُيُوتِكُنَّ مِنْ آيَاتِ اللَّهِ وَالْحِكْمَةِ"
(Al-Aḥzāb: 34)
“And remember what is recited in your homes of the verses of Allah and the Wisdom.”
These verses make it evident that the Prophet ﷺ was given not only the Book (Qur’an) but also Ḥikmah (wisdom), which he imparted to the people.
❖ The Wisdom of the Prophet ﷺ and Its Instruction
✔ The Prophet ﷺ manifested Ḥikmah through his sayings, actions, and practical example.
✔ The Ummah was gifted not only with the Qur’an but also the wisdom revealed to the Prophet ﷺ.
❖ Connection Between Following the Qur’an and the Prophet ﷺ
The Qur’an commands us to follow "what has been revealed by Allah," which includes both the Book and the Ḥikmah. Hence, following the Qur’an and following the Prophet ﷺ are not contradictory but rather integrated.
❖ "اتَّبِعُوا مَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكُم مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ"
(Al-Aʿrāf: 7:3)
“Follow what has been revealed to you from your Lord.”
❖ "قُلْ إِن كُنتُمْ تُحِبُّونَ اللَّهَ فَاتَّبِعُونِي يُحْبِبْكُمُ اللَّهُ"
(Āl ʿImrān: 31)
“Say: If you love Allah, then follow me; Allah will love you.”
❖ Objection: Was Only the Qur’an Revealed to the Prophet ﷺ?
This question is clearly addressed within the Qur’an itself: The Prophet ﷺ was also given rulings through revelation apart from the Qur’an.
❖ "وَمَا آتَاكُمُ الرَّسُولُ فَخُذُوهُ وَمَا نَهَاكُمْ عَنْهُ فَانتَهُوا"
(Al-Ḥashr: 7)
“Whatever the Messenger gives you, take it; and whatever he forbids you from, abstain from it.”
❖ "الَّذِينَ يَتَّبِعُونَ الرَّسُولَ النَّبِيَّ الْأُمِّيَّ"
(Al-Aʿrāf: 156–157)
“Those who follow the Messenger, the unlettered Prophet...”
❖ Was the Law of the Book of Allah Incomplete?
The objection that the law of the Book of Allah was incomplete is entirely based on a misunderstanding.
In legislative frameworks, it is a general principle that the supreme legislator provides foundational laws and delegates implementation and elaboration to a subordinate authority or individual.
❖ Allah’s Method of Legislation
✔ The Qur’an outlines general rulings and principles.
✔ The Prophet ﷺ was delegated authority to clarify and execute those rulings.
❖ "وَأَنزَلْنَا إِلَيْكَ الذِّكْرَ لِتُبَيِّنَ لِلنَّاسِ مَا نُزِّلَ إِلَيْهِمْ"
(An-Naḥl: 44)
“And We revealed the Reminder to you so that you may clarify for the people what has been sent down to them.”
❖ Examples of the Legislative Work of the Prophet ﷺ
✔ Ṣalāh (Prayer): The Qur’an provides general commands regarding prayer, but the times, units (rakʿāt), and method were explained by the Prophet ﷺ.
✔ Zakāh (Charity): The Qur’an commands zakāh, but its threshold (niṣāb) and rates were detailed by the Prophet ﷺ.
✔ Ḥajj (Pilgrimage): The Qur’an makes ḥajj obligatory, but the rituals (manāsik) were taught by the Prophet ﷺ.
✔ Ṭahārah (Purification): The Qur’an commands cleanliness, but wudū, ghusl, and istinjā were practically explained by the Prophet ﷺ.
❖ Conclusion
◈ The Qur’an and Sunnah are not separate from each other.
◈ The Sunnah is the detailed explanation and practical interpretation of the Qur’an.
◈ The sayings and actions of the Prophet ﷺ are clarifications of divine commandments, executed under delegated authority mentioned in the Qur’an.
◈ Following the Qur’an inherently includes following the Prophet ﷺ, as both contain commands revealed by Allah.
