The Obligation of Adhering to the Qur’an

Maimun narrated to us from Ibn ʿAbbas (may Allah be pleased with him) that a man came to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and said, “O Messenger of Allah, teach me.” He replied, “Go and study the Qur’an for three days.” Then, on the fourth occasion, he said to him, “Accept the truth from whoever brings it to you, whether he is dear to you or disliked, and learn the Qur’an; incline with it wherever it inclines.”

He also said: Hammad narrated to us from Ibrahim, from Ibn Masʿud (may Allah be pleased with him), that he used to say, “The worst of matters are those that are newly introduced; every novelty is a bidʿa (religious innovation), every bidʿa is misguidance, and every misguidance is in the Fire.” Allah the Exalted says: “and He inspired it with its wickedness and its righteousness” (Qur’an 91:8). And Allah the Exalted said to Moses—upon our master and Prophet be blessings and peace—“Indeed, We have tested your people after you, and the Samaritan has led them astray” (Qur’an 20:85).