Al-Waadih Fee Usool ul-Fiqh by Muhammad Hussein Abdullah

The Qur’aan has a special importance and significance that distinguishes it from the remainder of the Adillah Al-Ijmaaliyyah like the Sunnah, Ijmaa’, Qiyaas and others. This significance manifests in the following matters:

1) The Qur’aan Al-Kareem is the Kalaam (speech) of Allah in its Lafzh (wording) and in its Ma’naa (meaning). Consequently, the Prophetic Ahaadeeth are not considered to be from the Qur’aan because its Alfaazh (wordings) are not from Allah even if its meanings have been inspired from Allah. The Tafseer of the Qur’aan is also not considered to be from the Qur’aan just as the translation of the Qur’aan into other non-Arabic languages are not considered to be the Qur’aan. People undertake an act of worship by reciting the Qur’aan due to it being the Kalaam of Allah which is a special quality that is particular to it and is not found within any other Adillah.

2) The Qur’aan Al-Kareem has been transmitted to us by Tawaatur and this applies to every single one of its Aayaat. Each Aayah is Qat’iy Ath-Thuboot (definite in transmission) in respect to it being from Allah Ta’Aalaa. Consequently, anything that has not been transmitted by Tawaatur is not considered to be from the Qur’aan like that which was related from Abdullah Ibn Mas’ood (ra) for example when he recited the Qawl of Allah Ta’Aalaa:

When he read this Aayah he added the word ‘Mutataabi’aat’ (consecutive) after the three days and as such this reading is understood to represent a Tafseer of the three days in respect to them being consecutive in accordance to the opinion of Abdullah Ibn Mas’ood (ra).

That is while the vast majority of the Prophetic Ahaadeeth, that have been transmitted to us, are not Mutawaatir in their transmission as they are mostly Khabar Aahaad which means that they are Zhanniy Ath-Thuboot (not definite in transmission) in respect to them being from the Messenger of Allah (saw).

3) The Qur’aan Al-Kareem is safeguarded from any addition or omission (or deletion) due to the Qawl of Allah Ta’Aalaa:

Therefore, it is not possible for a creation to add to it or take anything away from it because Allah Ta’Aalaa has taken over and guaranteed that it will be preserved and safeguarded. In contrast we have seen that there have been those who have added to the Ahaadeeth of the Messenger of Allah (saw) either out of ignorance and good intention or in a deliberate attempt to scheme and fight against Islaam. The Saheeh Ahaadeeth are then only distinguished by the relaters and scholars of Hadeeth like Al-Bukhaari, Muslim and At-Tirmidhi amongst others.

4) The Qur’aan Al-Kareem is the Asaas (basis) and is the first point of reference for the Islamic Sharee’ah whilst the Hujjah (proof and validity) of the other Adillah like the Sunnah, Ijmaa’ and Qiyaas is derived from it. As such we take the Sunnah because Allah Ta’Aalaa has said in the Qur’aan:

And we take the Ijmaa’ As-Sahaabah because Allah Ta’Aalaa has praised them (collectively) in the Qur’aan: