Praise be to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah.
The Noble Qur’an is the primary source of Islamic legislation. It is a book of guidance and law, and a reference for Muslims regarding beliefs, acts of worship, and legal rulings.
Whatever Allah has commanded in the Qur’an must be obeyed, whatever He has prohibited must be avoided, whatever He has declared lawful is lawful, and whatever He has declared forbidden is forbidden.
Allah تعالى says:
“We have not neglected anything in the Book.” [Al-An‘am 6:38]
And He says:
“Today I have perfected for you your religion, completed My favor upon you, and approved Islam as your religion.” [Al-Ma’idah 5:3]
The Qur’an contains the fundamental principles of religion and its rulings, as well as accounts of previous nations, information about what is to come, and guidance concerning matters people need.
Islamic legislation cannot be properly understood from the Qur’an in isolation from the Prophetic Sunnah. Allah commanded Muslims to obey the Messenger ﷺ, and the Sunnah explains and details many rulings that are mentioned in the Qur’an in a general or concise form.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Indeed, I have been given the Qur’an and something like it along with it.”
What is meant by “something like it” here is the Prophetic Sunnah. Thus, the Sunnah is an authoritative source of Islamic legislation alongside the Qur’an.
The Qur’an is the revealed word of Allah and is the first and primary source of Islamic legislation.
The Sunnah consists of the authentic teachings, statements, actions, and approvals of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. It is the second source of Islamic legislation and serves to explain, clarify, specify, and detail what is found in the Qur’an.
For example, the Qur’an commands Muslims to establish prayer, but the Sunnah explains how the prayer is performed, including its times, manner, and details.
Thus, the Sunnah does not replace the Qur’an; rather, it explains and complements it within the framework of divine revelation.
Allah commands Muslims to refer disputes back to Allah and His Messenger ﷺ:
“If you disagree over anything, refer it to Allah and the Messenger, if you truly believe in Allah and the Last Day.” [An-Nisa’ 4:59]
Referring matters to Allah means returning to the Qur’an, while referring them to the Messenger ﷺ means returning to his authentic Sunnah.
According to Islam, the Qur’an is not merely a book for recitation or worship. It is a book of guidance and law and the primary reference for Islamic rulings.
The Qur’an is the first source of Islamic legislation, while the Prophetic Sunnah is the second source. The Sunnah explains and details the Qur’an and shows Muslims how many of its rulings are to be applied.
And Allah knows best.