All praise is due to Allah, the One Who only deserves all kinds of praise; I bear witness that there is no god worthy of worship but Allah, the One besides Whom there is no other Lord, and to Whom only we offer our worship; I bear witness that Muhammad is His Prophet and chosen Messenger; may Allah’s Peace and Blessings be him, his family, companions and whoever follows his guidance.

It is authentically reported that the Messenger of Allah,  said, "I have left two matters with you. As long as you hold to them, you will not go the wrong way. They are the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Prophet." [Malik, Al-Muwatta’] Commenting on this Hadeeth, Ibn ʿAbd Al-Barr,  said: "This is a well-recorded, popular report on the authority of the Prophet () to the extent that scholars believe its popularity makes them pay no much attention to its chain of transmission." (At-Tamheed: 24/331)

So, whoever wants to realize guidance in the two abodes, get happiness in the two lives and attain salvation in both this worldly life and the Hereafter, let him adhere to these two pillars: the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger, ; that is to say that he should apply the instructions and guidance included in them on the ground.

As far as the Quran is concerned, it is the first, most important pillar. All other sources of the Shareeʿah (law/jurisprudence) should rely on the Quran because it is the Speech of the Lord of the Worlds. He, the Exalted, truly spoke with it and sent it down via revelation upon His Messenger. As such, the believers firmly believed in it and fully realized that its words and meaning are from Allah, the Exalted. They furthermore firmly believe that it is not created.

This Book (the Quran) is the greatest Book communicated to the greatest Prophet (Muhammad ) via the greatest Angel (Gabriel ) in the greates language (the Arabic) on the greatest Night (Lailat Al-Qadr - the night of decree) of the greatest Month (Ramadan) so that the Prophet would deliver it to the greatest Ummah (people of Islam). 

Allah, the Exalted Says (what means): {The month of Ramadan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur'an, guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion …} [Quran 2:185] As such, it is the best Book revealed to the best Prophet to communicate it to the best Ummah produced as an example for mankind.

Quran is the best Dhikr (tribute), the greatest saying, and the best speech … It is the cure and treatment of the body, the guidance and purity of the heart, and the sublimity of the soul.

It is the lasting Blessing of Allah and His Sufficient Favor and Protective Shield. He, the Exalted Says: (what means): {And is it not sufficient for them that We revealed to you the Book which is recited to them?} [Quran 29:51]

The Quran is the spirit blown by Allah, the Almighty, into this Ummah and by means of which He revived the dead, a fact recorded in the Saying of Allah, the Exalted (which means): {And thus We have revealed to you an inspiration of Our command} [Quran, 42:52]

The Quran is the light by means of which Allah, the Exalted, illuminates the way to guidance for us and gets us out of the darkness. He, the Almighty Says (what means): {There has come to you from Allah a light and a clear Book. (15) By which Allah guides those who pursue His pleasure to the ways of peace and brings them out from darkness into the light, by His permission, and guides them to a straight path} [The Quran 5:15-16]

Quran is the Dhikr by which Allah, the Almighty elevated our rank, made us dignified and respected, increased our number after we were few, and made us the best Ummah. He, the Exalted Says (what means): {We have certainly sent down to you a Book in which is your mention. Then will you not reason?} [Quran 21:10]

The Glorious Quran is the outlet from temptations and the guide that takes us out of misguidance. On that, ʿAli,  is reported to have said: "Allah’s Book is the way, for it contains information of what has happened before you, news of what will happen after you, and a decision regarding matters which occur among you (This is explained as a reference to such matters as unbelief and faith, obedience and disobedience, what is lawful and what is forbidden, etc.). It is the distinguisher and is not jesting (Quran, 86:13). If any overweening person abandons it, God will break him, and if anyone seeks guidance elsewhere, God will lead him astray. It is God’s strong cord, it is the wise reminder, it is the straight path, it is that by which the desires do not swerve nor the tongues become confused, and the learned cannot grasp it completely. It does not become worn out by repetition, and its wonders do not come to an end. It is that of which the jinn did not hesitate to say when they heard it, ‘We have heard a wonderful recital which guides to what is right, and we believe in it’ (Quran, 72). He who utters it speaks the truth, he who acts according to it is rewarded, he who pronounces judgment according to it is just, and he who invites people to it guides to a straight path.” [Though it is narrated as a Marfoo'a Hadeeth, it is more authentic to narrate it as a Mawqoof  Hadeeth]

Messages from Allah

This Book contains Allah’s Messages to His servants; it includes His Commands and Prohibitions and what pleases/displeases Him, the Almighty. People would not benefit from such divine instructions unless they read and think over the verses of the Quran so that they would correctly apply them on the ground. 

The Quran was sent down to be applied and to serve as a way of life. As for restricting the function of this great Book exclusively to reciting it at the outset of festivals and conferences, or reading it to the dead (by means of making them incur more good deeds), or placing it on shelves and cars to seek blessings from it, this is but the negligence of the Book of Allah and an act that would lead the entire Ummah to destruction.

The ancestors and the Quran

The first generations of Muslims fully realized the virtue of the Quran, which is why they hastened to learn it, benefit from it and apply it in their life. By doing so, the Quran became a way of life for them, and they themselves became fully engulfed by its orders and prohibitions. On that, Al-Bukhaaree and Ahmed narrated on the authority of 'Aishah that she was once asked about the character of the Messenger of Allah whereupon she replied: "His character was the Quran." In another narration, it is reported that she gave the following answer, "He was Quran walking among people." The companions thus followed the path of the Prophet as they used to benefit from the Quran, each according to what Allah, the Exalted, facilitated for him.

Requisites for approaching the Quran

Allah, the Almighty, made the companions benefit from the Glorious Quran and elevated them with it to the highest rank among mankind. That is because they sincerely and faithfully approached it. In addition, they approached it with the intention of realizing some goals in light of certain requisites, as follows:

First: Quran is the first and foremost source of legislation

As such, they viewed it as the constitution of life from which they used to take the rulings of Shareeʿah. For them, Quran was the pure, sufficient spring, which is why they sufficed with it, rejecting thus all man-made laws and eastern and western constitutions. They thus adopted the Saying of Allah, the Almighty (which means): {And is it not sufficient for them that We revealed to you the Book which is recited to them? Indeed, that is a mercy and reminder for a people who believe} [Quran, 29:51] as a way of life.

As such, the Quran represented for them guidance from all kinds of misguidance, as shown in the Saying of Allah, the Almighty (which means): {Indeed, this Quran guides to that which is most suitable …} [Quran 17:9] So, it guides to the most suitable creeds, acts of worship, ethics, transactions, and all matters and problems.

For them, Quran is the Cure for all diseases, a fact recorded in the Saying of Allah, the Almighty (which means): {And We send down of the Quran that which is healing and mercy for the believers, but it does not increase the wrongdoers except in loss} [Quran 17:82] So, it is a cure for the diseases of the body, the heart, communities, and people. In addition, it provides protection from all misguided whims and deviated practices. 

Second: true application of its instructions

The companions used to hasten to apply the Quranic commands and to keep away from its prohibitions. On that, ʿAbd Ar-Rahman As-Sulami said, "Those companions who taught us the Quran, like 'Abd Ar-Rahman Ibn 'Awf and 'Abd Allah Ibn Mas'ood told us that they used to learn ten verses of the Quran from the Prophet and that they never skipped these ten to other verses until they became fully aware of their meaning and thus apply them.' So, they said, 'We learned the Quran, knowledge, and work together."

Retrun to the Quran

We call upon Muslims around the globe to come back to the Book of Allah (the salvation for mankind). By returning to the Quran, we do not mean mere recitation but rather the holistic return that includes recitation, contemplation (research), learning, examination, application, adherence to its etiquettes, and reliance on its judgments in our judiciary. The Quran has been sent down to prevail, the facts recorded in the Quran. Allah Says (what means): {And judge, [O Muhammad], between them by what Allah has revealed and do not follow their inclinations} [Quran 5:49]

{And whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed - then it is those who are the disbelievers} [Quran 5:44] 

{And whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed - then it is those who are the wrongdoer} [Quran 5:45] 

{And whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed - then it is those who are the defiantly disobedient} [Quran 5:47]

{Then is it the judgment of [the time of] ignorance they desire? But who is better than Allah in judgment for a people who are certain [in faith]} [Quran 5:50]

Warning against forsaking the Quran

In the Quran, Allah, the Almighty, Tells us about a nation to which He has sent down a heavenly Book, but its members put it behind their backs in neglect, did not work according to its instructions, turned away from it, and never made it their arbiter. Allah, the Almighty Says (what means): {The example of those who were entrusted with the Torah and then did not take it on is like that of a donkey who carries volumes [of books]. Wretched is the example of the people who deny the signs of Allah. And Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people} [Quran 62:5]

In the same vein, He, the Exalted Reminded us of a servant whom He granted knowledge, but he didn't put it into practice. Allah Says (what means): {So his example is like that of the dog: if you chase him, he pants, or if you leave him, he [still] pants. That is the example of the people who denied Our signs. So relate the stories that perhaps they will give thought.} [Quran, 7:176]

So, come back to the Book of Allah so that He, the Exalted, would shower you with His Mercy. Allah  Says (what means):  {And turn to Allah in repentance, all of you, O believers, that you might succeed} [Quran 24:31]

O, Allah! Benefit us with the Quran and make us from the people of the Quran – those who are Your people and those who are the closest to you … Ameen!