The Qur'an and Sunnah: Guideline and Soul of Life
Introduction
Absolutely, every human being requires a firm grip and a guide when navigating life in this world. Without a clear guide, one will be tossed around like a feather in a strong wind—directionless, confused, and unsure of their final destination. For a Muslim, the ultimate goal of this life is already very clear: to attain happiness in this world and salvation in the Hereafter, seeking the pleasure of Allah SWT.
To achieve this noble goal, Allah SWT does not leave mankind to wander in the dark. He obliges Muslims to make the Qur’an and Sunnah their primary guide. More than just a guidebook, both must penetrate to become the soul of life that drives our every breath and daily activities.
The Qur’an as Soul and Light
In the Qur’an, Allah SWT terms His revelation as “ruh” (soul/spirit) because it provides spiritual life to human souls that were previously dead in the darkness of ignorance (Jahiliyah):
وَكَذٰلِكَ اَوْحَيْنَآ اِلَيْكَ رُوْحًا مِّنْ اَمْرِنَا ۗمَا كُنْتَ تَدْرِيْ مَا الْكِتٰبُ وَلَا الْاِيْمَانُ وَلٰكِنْ جَعَلْنٰهُ نُوْرًا نَّهْدِيْ بِهٖ مَنْ نَّشَاۤءُ مِنْ عِبَادِنَا ۗوَاِنَّكَ لَتَهْدِيْٓ اِلٰى صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيْمٍۙ
Meaning: “And thus We have revealed to you an inspiration (ruh) of Our command. You did not know what is the Book or [what is] faith, but We have made it a light by which We guide whom We will of Our servants. And indeed, [O Muhammad], you guide to a straight path.” (QS. Asy-Syura: 52)
So close was the connection of the Messenger of Allah’s SAW life with revelation that Ummul Mukminin Aisha radhiyallahu ‘anha described his character by stating: “His character was the Qur’an.” He was the embodiment of the walking Qur’an on earth.
Anyone who holds fast to both is guaranteed never to go astray, as the Messenger of Allah SAW said during the Farewell Pilgrimage (Haji Wada’):
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنِّى قَدْ تَرَكْتُ فِيكُمْ مَا إِنِ اعْتَصَمْتُمْ بِهِ فَلَنْ تَضِلُّوا أَبَدًا كِتَابَ اللَّهِ وَسُنَّةَ نَبِيِّهِ
Meaning: “O people, indeed I have left among you that which, if you hold fast to it, you will never go astray: the Book of Allah (Qur’an) and the Sunnah of His Prophet.” (HR. Al-Hakim)
Three Ways to Make the Qur’an & Sunnah the Soul of Life
To implement the Qur’an and Sunnah as the soul in our daily lives, there are three practical steps we must take:
1. Making Them the Primary Reference (Al-Marji’)
When we face disputes, doubts, or differences of opinion in any matter, our first and final reference must be the Qur’an and Sunnah, not unrestricted human logic or mere majority opinion.
يَاأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ وَأُولِي الْأَمْرِ مِنْكُمْ فَإِنْ تَنَازَعْتُمْ فِي شَيْءٍ فَرُدُّوهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَالرَّسُولِ…
Meaning: “O you who have believed, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you. And if you disagree over anything, refer it to Allah (Qur’an) and the Messenger (Sunnah)…” (QS. An-Nisa’: 59)
2. Making Them the Standard of Judgment (Al-Miyar)
The Qur’an and Sunnah must be positioned as the yardstick (standard) to judge modern thoughts, cultures, customs, philosophies, and laws. Modern culture or rules must submit and adapt to Islam, not the other way around where Islamic teachings are altered or cropped to suit the tastes of the times.
وَمَا اخْتَلَفْتُمْ فِيهِ مِنْ شَيْءٍ فَحُكْمُهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ…
Meaning: “And in anything over which you disagree—its ruling is [to be referred] to Allah…” (QS. Asy-Syura: 10)
3. Applying Their Laws Collectively and Comprehensively
We must not be selective (partial) towards Islamic teachings—accepting rules that suit our desires and discarding those deemed heavy or difficult. We are obliged to submit to all His laws in all aspects of life, including worship, morality, social transactions, and criminal laws.
Learning from the Best Generation (The Sahabah)
In his book of exegesis Fi Zhilalil Qur’an, Sayyid Qutb explained three main secrets why the generation of the companions radhiyallahu ‘anhum succeeded in becoming the best generation, unmatched in human history:
- Purity of Source: They made the Qur’an their sole source of guidance and discarded all other foreign sources of thought.
- Action-Oriented: They read the Qur’an not merely for academic knowledge (tsaqafah) or literary appreciation, but directly to implement it in real life.
- Break from the Past: They completely severed all emotional and intellectual ties to their past ignorance (Jahiliyah) and began an entirely new chapter of life with Islam.
Conclusion
The honor of the Muslim Ummah depends heavily on how firmly they hold fast to this magnificent guide. The Prophet SAW warned in his hadith:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَرْفَعُ بِهَذَا الْكِتَابِ أَقْوَامًا وَيَضَعُ بِهِ آخَرِيْنَ
Meaning: “Indeed, Allah elevates nations with this Book (the Qur’an) and degrades others with it.” (HR. Muslim)
Let us make the Qur’an and Sunnah the guiding light of our footsteps and the soul that revives our hearts.
Adapted from the Friday Sermon by Ustadz Hamid S. (Dakwah.id).
