and the Messenger decisive in settling disputes, they would not have been commanded to refer matters to it.

Allah sent down to the Messenger the Book and wisdom, as He mentions in several places. The Messenger taught his community the Book and wisdom, as Allah said:

“And teaches them the Book and wisdom.”

He would speak of the Book and wisdom in his home, and Allah commanded His Prophet’s wives to remember this, saying:

“And remember what is recited in your homes of Allah’s verses and wisdom.”

Allah’s verses are the Quran, for the Quran itself demonstrates that it was sent down by Allah: it is a sign and evidence pointing to the One who sent it down. As for “wisdom,” several of the early generations said that it is the Sunnah. Others, including Mālik, said that it is knowledge of the religion and acting upon it. Other explanations have also been given, and all of them are true. Wisdom encompasses distinguishing between what is commanded and what is forbidden, and between truth and falsehood, and teaching truth rather than falsehood. This is the Sunnah by which he distinguished truth from falsehood, good deeds from evil deeds, and good from evil. It is reported that he, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“I have left you upon a clear path whose night is like its day. None will deviate from it after me except one who is doomed.”

Words to this effect are also reported from ʿUmar ibn al-Khattāb, may Allah be pleased with him. Such statements occur frequently in hadiths and reports from the early generations, and are cited in the books that collect these reports. Similar statements are cited by numerous authors in their accounts of the Sunnah, including Ibn Battah, al-Lālakā’ī, and al-Talamankī, as well as earlier authors who compiled works on the Sunnah, such as the associates of