Question:
Is there a hadith which states that the best of speech are the verses of the Quran?
Answer:
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his wives, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
Al-Quran is a blessing from Allah SWT for us the ummah of the Prophet Muhammad PBUH and the book of guidance for all mankind throughout time. This is explained in the Quran itself:
- Allah SWT states:
ذَٰلِكَ الْكِتَابُ لَا رَيْبَ ۛ فِيهِ ۛ هُدًى لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ
“This is the Book about which there is no doubt, a guidance for those conscious of Allah,”
Surah al-Baqarah (2)
According to the above question, there is a hadith in Sahih Muslim which states that the best of speech are the verses of the Quran.
- From Jabir bin Abdillah RA, the Prophet PBUH said:
فَإِنَّ خَيْرَ الْحَدِيثِ كِتَابُ اللهِ، وَخَيْرُ الْهُدَى هُدَى مُحَمَّدٍ، وَشَرُّ الْأُمُورِ مُحْدَثَاتُهَا، وَكُلُّ بِدْعَةٍ ضَلَالَةٌ
"The best of the speech is embodied in the Book of Allah, and the best of the guidance is the guidance given by Muhammad. And the most evil affairs are their innovations; and every innovation is error."
Sahih Muslim (867)
Imam al-Nawawi said, scholars have stated that speech or guidance in the above hadith have two meanings: [See: al-Minhaj Syarah Sahih Muslim, 153/6]
First: Guidance referred to the messengers, al-Quran and slaves. This is as stated by Allah SWT:
وَإِنَّكَ لَتَهْدِي إِلَىٰ صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ
“And indeed, [O Muhammad], you guide to a straight path,”
Surah al-Syura (52)
إِنَّ هَـٰذَا الْقُرْآنَ يَهْدِي لِلَّتِي هِيَ أَقْوَمُ وَيُبَشِّرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ
“Indeed, this Qur'an guides to that which is most suitable and gives good tidings to the believers,”
Surah al-Isra’ (9)
وَأَمَّا ثَمُودُ فَهَدَيْنَاهُمْ
“And as for Thamud, We guided them,”
Surah Fussilat (17)
Imam al-Nawawi said guidance here means showing them to the right path or making the right path clear and apparent to them.
إِنَّا هَدَيْنَاهُ السَّبِيلَ
“Indeed, We guided him to the way,”
Surah al-Insan (3)
وَهَدَيْنَاهُ النَّجْدَيْنِ
And have shown him the two ways?
Surah al-Balad (10)
Second: Guidance means tenderness, taufiq, protection and help. All of these are only from Allah SWT. Among them is a statement of Allah SWT:
إِنَّكَ لَا تَهْدِي مَنْ أَحْبَبْتَ وَلَـٰكِنَّ اللَّـهَ يَهْدِي مَن يَشَاءُ
“Indeed, [O Muhammad], you do not guide whom you like, but Allah guides whom He wills.”
Surah al-Qasas (56)
Conclusion
To conclude, it is undeniable that the Quran is the best of speech and nothing is comparable to the Quran. The reason is the Quran is the words of Allah SWT and to Him all perfection resides. Lastly, May Allah SWT make us from among His slaves who love the Quran and also make us from among those who always recite and practise everything commanded in the Quran. Amin.
Wallahua’lam.