Sources of Islamic Guidance — Essence of Islam Vol. 2

14 Sep, 2026 Essence of Islam 0

Essence of Islam Book Cover by Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (AS)

Introduction

In this discourse from Essence of Islam (Volume 2), Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (AS), the Promised Messiah and Mahdi, expounds upon Sources of Islamic Guidance, presenting profound spiritual insights and scriptural verities.

Book Series: Essence of Islam (Volume 2)
Author: Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian (AS)
Section: Part 3: Hadith and the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (sa)
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129 H ADITH AND THE SUNNAH OF THE HOLY PROPHETSA To hold fast to Islamic injunctions, the Muslims have three things. First, the Holy Qur’an which is the Book of God than which we have no more conclusive and certain statement. It is the Word of God and is free from all doubt and speculation. Secondly, the practice of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him), which is called the Sunnah. Here we are not speaking in terms of the terminology used by the Ahl-e-Hadith. We do not regard Hadith and Sunnah as one and the same thing, as is done by traditional scholars of Hadith. They are distinct, Hadith is one thing and Sunnah is another. By Sunnah we mean the practice of the Holy Prophetsa, to which he adhered and which appeared along with the Holy Qur’an and will accompany it. In other words, the Holy Qur’an is the Word of God Almighty and the Sunnah is the practice of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him). It has ever been the way of God that the Prophets bring the Word of God for the guidance of people and illustrate it in practice with their conduct so that no doubt should remain in the minds of people with regard to the Divine Word. They act upon it and urge others to do the The correct way, therefore, is neither to treat the Ahadith as having greater authority than the Qur’an, as do the Ahl-e-Hadith of this age, and not to prefer the statements in the Ahadith which are contradictory of the Qur’an to the Qur’an itself; nor to regard the Ahadith as vain and false as is the belief of Maulavi ‘Abdullah Chakralwi. The Qur’an and Sunnah should judge the Ahadith and those that are not opposed to them should by all means be accepted. This is the straight path and blessed are those who follow it. Most unfortunate and foolish is the person who rejects the Ahadith altogether without regard to the test that we have proposed.
It should be the duty of the members of our Community that a Hadith which is not opposed to the Qur’an and Sunnah, should be accepted and followed, however weak might be its authority, and it should be preferred to the rules framed by jurists. [Review bar Mubahatha Batalwi wa Chakralwi,
Ruhani Khaza’in, vol. 19, pp. 209-212]
[Essence of Islam, Vol. 2]
[Essence of Islam, Vol. 2, p. 129]

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Introduction