its gates will be opened, and its keepers will say to them, ‘Did messengers from among yourselves not come to you?’”—to the end of the verse.
And His saying:
“O company of jinn and mankind”—to the end of the verse.
For this reason, some of the leading compilers of Sunan collections arranged in topical chapters, when bringing together the various branches of knowledge, began with the foundation of knowledge and faith. Thus al-Bukhārī began his Sahīh with the beginning of revelation and its descent, first describing how knowledge and faith were revealed to the Messenger. He then followed this with the Book of Faith, which is the acknowledgment of what the Messenger brought, and then with the Book of Knowledge, which is the understanding of what he brought. He thereby arranged it in its proper order. Likewise, Imam Abū Muhammad al-Dārimī, the author of (al-Musnad), began his book with the proofs of prophethood and included a substantial selection of material on that subject.
These two men are far superior to Muslim, al-Tirmidhī, and others like them. For this reason, Ahmad ibn Hanbal held these two and their peers in great esteem, because they possessed a profound understanding of hadith, both in its foundations and in its branches.
Since the foundation of knowledge and guidance is faith in the message, which comprises the Book and wisdom, His references to the path of guidance through the message—the Quran and what the messengers brought—are exceedingly numerous. For example, He says:
“This is the Book about which there is no doubt, a guidance for those mindful of Allah.”
And His saying:
“This is a clear statement to mankind, and a guidance and admonition for those mindful of Allah.”
And His saying:
“Indeed, this Quran guides to that which is most upright.”
And His saying:
“And He sent down the Torah and the Gospel before, as guidance for mankind.”
And His saying:
“A Book which We have revealed to you so that you may bring mankind out of darkness into light, by their Lord’s permission.”
And His saying:
“When guidance comes to you from Me, whoever follows My guidance will neither go astray nor suffer misery. But whoever turns away from My remembrance will have a life of hardship, and We will raise him blind on the Day of Resurrection.”
And His saying: “And indeed, you