The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم, who received the inspiration and lived by it, spoke about many of the important features of the Qur'aan. Below are presented just a small sampling of his many important and illuminating statements.
The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم has made it clear that this Qur'aan is a great blessing and miracle from Allaah سبحانه و تعالى. In the following hadeeth, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم is referring to the miracles that were given to the previous Prophets عليهم الصلاة والسلام. Although the miracles that were performed at their hands were something great, they cannot compare to what the Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم received as his standing miracle - even the staff that was given to Prophet Moosaa (Moses) عليه السلام or the raising of the dead and healing of the blind by Prophet 'Eesaa (Jesus) عليه السلام cannot compare to what the Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم received in the form of the Qur'aan. For this reason, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم had reason to hope that he will have the greatest number of followers on the Day of Judgement. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said, "There was no prophet among the prophets except that he was given something that would make the people believe in him. But what I have been given is an inspiration that Allaah has revealed to me. So I hope that I will have more followers than them on the Day of Resurrection." [1]
Another hadeeth sheds some light on the greatness of the Qur'aan, which is the speech of Allaah. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said, "The superiority of the speech of Allaah over all other speech is like the superiority of Allaah over His creation." [2]
When a person realises that such is the nature of the superiority of the Qur'aan, he will definitely dedicate some of his time to read this speech and not ignore it or turn to other sources for guidance.
The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said about the Qur'aan, "Have glad tidings! Verily, one end of this Qur'aan is in the hand of Allaah and another end is in your hands. Adhere to it, for then you will not be destroyed and you will never go astray after it." [3]
The Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم also said, "O people, certainly I am but a human and soon a messenger from my Lord may come to me and I will respond to his call [and die]. I am leaving among you two heavy things. [4] The first of them is the Book of Allaah. It contains guidance and light. The one who adheres to it and follows it will be upon guidance. The one who doesn't adhere to it shall go astray. Therefore, take the Book of Allaah and cling to it..." [5]
Another hadeeth states that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said, "Certainly, Allaah has special people among mankind." He was asked, "O Messenger of Allaah, who are they?" He replied, "They are the people of the Qur'aan - they are the people of Allaah and specially His." [6]
The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم also said, "The best of you is he who learns the Qur'aan and teaches it to others." [7]
The Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم also said about the Qur'aan, "Whoever follows a path in order to seek knowledge thereby, Allaah will make easy for him, due to it, a path to Paradise. No people gather together in a house of the houses of Allaah, reciting the Book of Allaah and studying it among themselves, except that tranquility is descended upon them, mercy covers them, the angels surround them and Allaah makes mention of them to those in His presence. Whoever is slowed by his deeds will not be hastened forward by his lineage." [8]
The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم also said, "The example of the believer who recites the Qur'aan is like that of a citron, which tastes good and smells good. And he who does not recite the Qur'aan is like a date, which is good in taste but has no smell. And the example of the hypocrite who recites the Qur'aan is like the raihaana plant, which smells good but tastes bitter. And the example of a hypocrite who does not recite the Qur'aan is like the colocynth, which tastes bitter and has no smell." [9]
'Abdul Ghani notes how the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم has demonstrated the greatness and lofty nature of the Qur'aan in this hadeeth: Even when it comes out of the mouth of someone who does not truly believe in it, it is described as having a good and pleasant aroma. [10]
The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم also said, "I have left among you two matters that if you adhere to them you will never be misguided: the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of His Prophet." [11]
Finally, another hadeeth demonstrates the importance of the Book of Allaah سبحانه و تعالى in one's life: the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم said, "The Qur'aan is either an argument for you or against you." [12]
In this hadeeth, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم makes it clear that the Qur'aan is either a proof for someone or a proof against him. There is no third, neutral party. One must be from one group or the other. This is similar to what Allaah سبحانه و تعالى has said in the Qur'aan,
"And We send down of the Qur'aan that which is healing and mercy for the believers, but it does not increase the wrongdoers except in loss." (Sooratul-Israa', 17:82) [13]
Notes:
[1] Recorded by Imaam al-Bukhaari رحمه الله.
[2] Recorded by Imaam at-Tirmidhi رحمه الله, Imaam ad-Daarimi رحمه الله and others. After a lengthy discussion, Shaykh al-Huwaini concludes that the hadeeth is hasan due to its supporting evidences. See Abu Ishaaq al-Huwaini's footnotes to Imaam Ismaa'eel Ibn Katheer رحمه الله, Kitaab Fadaa'il al-Qur'aan (Cairo: Maktabaj Ibn Taymiyyah, 1416 A.H.), p. 274.
[3] Recorded by Imaam at-Tabaraani رحمه الله. According to Shaykh al-Albaani رحمه الله, it is saheeh. See Muhammad Naasirud-Deen al-Albaani رحمه الله, Saheehul-Jaami'us-Sagheer (Beirut: al-Maktab al-Islaami, 1988), vol. 1, p. 69.
[4] In other words, shouldering the responsibility of these two and acting upon them is something very heavy.
[5] Recorded by Imaam Ahmad رحمه الله with the above wording and Imaam Muslim رحمه الله has something very similar to it.
[6] Recorded by Imaam Ahmad رحمه الله, Imaam Ibn Maajah رحمه الله, Imaam an-Nasaa'ee رحمه الله in Fadaa'il al-Qur'aan and others. According to Shaykh al-Albaani رحمه الله, it is saheeh. See Saheehul-Jaami', vol. 1, p. 432.
[7] Recorded by Imaam al-Bukhaari رحمه الله.
[8] Recorded by Imaam Muslim رحمه الله.
[9] Recorded by Imaam al-Bukhaari رحمه الله.
[10] Sayyid Sa'eed 'Abdul Ghani, Haqeeqatul-Walaa' wal-Baraa' fee Mu'taqad Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamaa'ahg (Beirut: Daar Ibn Hazm, 1998), p. 61.
[11] Recorded by Imaam Maalik رحمه الله, Imaam al-Haakim رحمه الله and Imaam al-Bayhaqi رحمه الله. It is saheeh. Cf., Shaykh al-Albaani رحمه الله, Saheehul-Jaami', vol. 1, p. 566.
[12] Recorded by Imaam Muslim رحمه الله.
[13] How to Approach and Understand the Qur'aan, pp. 18-23.