For someone who has recently embraced Islam, an important question often arises: If the Qur’an is Allah's complete revelation, why must we also follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ? The answer lies within the Qur’an itself. Allah did not merely reveal a Book; He also sent a Messenger to teach, explain and demonstrate how its guidance should be lived.
Before we proceed further, it needs to be understood that the Qur’an and the authentic Sunnah are not two competing paths, but complementary sources of guidance that lead a believer towards Allah. The source of Divine commands is Al Qur’an conveys Allah's commands, while the Sunnah explains, demonstrates and brings those commands to life through the example of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. For new Muslims, the journey begins not with knowing everything, but with learning sincerely, practicing gradually and allowing faith to shape everyday character.
Surah An-Nisā’ 4:59 reminds us that obedience to Allah and His Messenger belongs together. The true beauty of Islam emerges when the Qur’an guides our understanding, the Sunnah guides our actions, and both transform us into better human beings. Let us understand it in more detail:
The Divine Command — Surah An-Nisā’ 4:59
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا أَطِيعُوا ٱللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا ٱلرَّسُولَ وَأُو۟لِى ٱلْأَمْرِ مِنكُمْ
"O you who believe! Obey Allah and obey the Messenger, and those in authority among you."
The verse continues:
فَإِن تَنَازَعْتُمْ فِى شَىْءٍ فَرُدُّوهُ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ وَٱلرَّسُولِ
"If you disagree over anything, refer it to Allah and His Messenger."
This command establishes two essential sources of religious guidance: the Qur’an, which contains Allah's revelation, and the authentic Sunnah, which preserves the Prophet's teachings and example. The verse also requires obedience to legitimate authorities. However, as Ibn Kathīr explains, such obedience is conditional upon what is right and does not extend to disobeying Allah.
How the Qur’an and Sunnah Work Together
The Qur’an and Sunnah are not competing authorities. They complement one another in understanding and practicing Islam. Consider three everyday examples:
1. Prayer (Ṣalāh): The Qur’an commands Muslims to establish prayer, but the Sunnah explains how the Prophet ﷺ performed it, including its movements and recitations. He instructed:
"Pray as you have seen me praying." — Sahih al-Bukhari 631.
2. Zakāh: The Qur’an repeatedly commands believers to give zakāh. The Prophetic Sunnah provides essential explanations about its calculation, applicable wealth and distribution.
3. Pilgrimage (Ḥajj): The Qur’an establishes the obligation of pilgrimage, while the Prophet ﷺ demonstrated its rituals, saying:
"Learn your rituals from me." — Sahih Muslim 1297.
The Sunnah also illustrates Islamic character through the Prophet's honesty, mercy, patience, justice and treatment of others.
What Do Scholars Say?
Ibn Kathīr, explaining 4:59, states that obeying Allah means following His Book, while obeying the Messenger means following his Sunnah. He further explains that religious disputes should be referred to the Qur’an and authentic Prophetic teachings. Allah reinforces this relationship elsewhere:
مَّن يُطِعِ ٱلرَّسُولَ فَقَدْ أَطَاعَ ٱللَّهَ
"Whoever obeys the Messenger has truly obeyed Allah." — Surah An-Nisā’ 4:80.
And in Surah Al-Aḥzāb 33:21, Allah describes His Messenger as an excellent example for believers.
A Practical Approach for New Muslims
A new Muslim should begin by reading the Qur’an with a reliable translation, learning its fundamental teachings and gradually becoming familiar with the Prophet's authentic Sunnah.