According to the Qur'an, the only source that Muslims are required to follow and believe in is the Qur'an itself. Hadith books that emerged later are neither protected by Allah nor have divine authority. The Qur'an explicitly and repeatedly states that no other word or teaching should be accepted besides itself. Below are verses taken directly from the Qur'an along with their detailed explanations:
“Then in what statement after this [Qur'an] will they believe?”
(Al-A'raf, 7:185)“Allah has sent down the best statement: a consistent Book wherein is reiteration.”
(Az-Zumar, 39:23)
These two verses together deliver a crystal-clear message: no other statement, source, or teaching apart from the Qur'an can be considered authoritative in matters of faith. Al-A'raf 7:185 warns that seeking another source indicates a lack of trust in the Qur'an—and in Allah. Az-Zumar 39:23 describes the Qur'an as the best, most harmonious, and repeated word sent by Allah. Hadith books possess none of these qualities. They are inconsistent, of questionable origin, and often contradict the Qur'an. Allah commands Muslims to follow only the Qur'an. Turning to other sources fragments the religion and leads to deviation. Thus, the Qur'an is sufficient and the only guide for believers. Seeking guidance from any other source leads away from truth.
“And the Messenger will say, ‘O my Lord, indeed my people have taken this Qur'an as [a thing] abandoned.’”
(Al-Furqan, 25:30)
This verse makes it clear that the Prophet will complain on Judgment Day about his people abandoning the Qur'an. Al-Furqan 25:30 shows that the Prophet foresaw this abandonment. Today, many Muslims shape their religious understanding not from the Qur'an but from hadith collections, sectarian rulings, and traditional interpretations. Yet the Messenger of Allah only conveyed the Qur'an and left no other source behind. This verse highlights that any authority outside of the Qur'an is subject to the Prophet’s complaint. The oral traditions and books replacing the Qur'an have corrupted the essence of Islam. Those who abandon the Qur'an have, in effect, also abandoned the Prophet. True faith is only possible through clinging to the Qur'an. No other religious source can replace the book of Allah.
“We have not neglected in the Book a thing.”
(Al-An'am, 6:38)“And We have sent down to you the Book as clarification for all things...”
(An-Nahl, 16:89)
The Qur'an not only outlines the fundamentals of faith but also defines moral conduct, worship, and societal values. Al-An'am 6:38 affirms that nothing has been left out of the Qur'an, while An-Nahl 16:89 states that the Book was revealed to clarify all things. Saying “The Qur'an is not enough” is an open challenge to Allah. Adding further explanations, interpretations, or sources over the Qur'an distorts divine revelation. These verses provide clear instruction: Muslims should take the Qur'an as their sole guide. Seeking the foundations of religion elsewhere is a denial of the Qur'an’s supremacy. Hadith collections are not above—or even equal to—the Qur'an. Nothing apart from the Qur'an can legislate in matters of religion. A true Muslim is one who accepts only the Book revealed by Allah as sufficient.
“Is it not sufficient for them that We have sent down to you the Book?”
(Al-Ankabut, 29:51)
Al-Ankabut 29:51 directly affirms that the Qur'an is sufficient for both the Prophet and the community. This verse emphasizes the importance of trusting in Allah’s word and the futility of turning to other sources. Many today turn to hadith books, sectarian fatwas, or religious authorities in the name of faith. But Allah declares His own word—the Qur'an—as sufficient. Anyone who relies on other sources implicitly claims the Qur'an is insufficient, which is a major contradiction. True belief means accepting Allah’s word as complete and final. To view the Qur'an as incomplete undermines trust in Allah. Faith means submitting fully to Allah, and this submission is only possible by following the Qur'an alone. For a Muslim, the Qur'an is the sole reference and standard. All other sources serve only to cause confusion.
There are many misconceptions about hadith in society. One of the most common is the belief that obeying the Prophet means adhering to his verbal narrations. However, in the Qur'an, obedience to the Prophet means obedience to the revelation he delivered—the Qur'an. The Prophet’s mission was solely to transmit the revelation, as emphasized repeatedly in the Qur'an. There is no indication that hadith books would be written, compiled, or preserved. On the contrary, the Qur'an warns that statements outside revelation are unreliable, conflicting, and untrustworthy. Most hadiths were collected centuries later, contain contradictory messages, and often oppose the Qur'an. Thus, they are not sources of faith but rather sources of confusion. The Qur'an is the only reliable standard. True belief means being content with the Qur'an and not using external sayings as religious criteria.
According to the Qur'an, the only source to be believed and followed in Islam is the Qur'an itself. Hadith books are not protected by Allah and contain many reports that contradict the Qur'an. Allah states that the Qur'an is complete, sufficient, and explanatory. We learn that the Prophet’s complaint about his people is that they abandoned the Qur'an. A true believer is one who is satisfied with what Allah has revealed. No other statement should be accepted as a source of religion besides the Qur'an.