Question 9: How should we interpret the Noble Qur’an?

Answer: Allah—glorified and exalted—is the One who sent the Qur’an down to the heart of His Messenger Muhammad ﷺ so that he might lead people out of the darkness of disbelief and ignorance into the light of Islam. The Exalted says: “Alif Lām Rā. A Book We have revealed to you that you may bring mankind out of darkness into light—by permission of their Lord—to the path of the Mighty, the Praiseworthy” (Ibrāhīm 14:1).

He also appointed His Messenger ﷺ as the one who clarifies, explains, and elucidates what is in the Qur’an. He, the Exalted, says: “And We have sent down to you the Reminder so that you may make clear to the people what has been sent down to them, and so that they may reflect” (an-Nahl 16:44).

Accordingly, the Sunnah came as an explanation and clarification of the Noble Qur’an, and it too is revelation from Allah. The Exalted says: “Nor does he speak from desire; it is nothing but revelation revealed” (an-Najm 53:3-4). The Prophet ﷺ said: “Indeed, I have been given the Qur’an and something like it along with it. Soon a well-fed man reclining on his couch will say, ‘Adhere to this Qur’an; whatever you find therein declared lawful, deem it lawful, and whatever you find therein declared unlawful, deem it unlawful.’ Verily, what the Messenger of Allah ﷺ has forbidden is just as what Allah has forbidden.” 1

Thus, the very first means of interpreting the Noble Qur’an is the Qur’an itself together with the Sunnah—and it consists of the statements