In matters of religion, what defines evidence? What is binding upon every Muslim to follow? These questions are not just academic but essential for understanding the foundation of Islam.
- Allah ﷻ makes it clear in the Qur'an:
اتَّبِعُوا مَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكُم مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا مِن دُونِهِ أَوْلِيَاءَ قَلِيلًا مَّا تَذَكَّرُونَ
“Follow that which has been sent down to you from your Lord, and do not follow besides Him any allies. Little do you remember.” (Surah Al-A'raf 7:3)
This verse commands adherence to what has been revealed from Allah ﷻ and warns against following anything else. The obligation to follow divine revelation is explicit, leaving no room for subjective opinions when an authentic text is present.
- Imam Abu Abdillah Al-Qurtubi, the great mufassir (Qur'anic commentator), explains this verse, saying:
وَدَلَّتِ الْآيَةُ عَلَىٰ تَرْكِ اتِّبَاعِ الْآرَاءِ مَعَ وُجُودِ النَّصِّ
“This ayah shows the obligation of leaving off personal opinions when a text is present.” (Al-Jaami’ li aḥkaam al-Qur’an: 7:161)
This clarification is crucial: human interpretations, scholarly opinions, or personal reasoning have no weight when a clear text from the Qur'an, Sunnah, or consensus of the Ummah (ijma') is available.
The Religion of Islam Is Complete
- The completeness of Islam as a divine system is affirmed in the Qur'an when Allah ﷻ declares:
الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِي وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ الْإِسْلَامَ دِينًا
“Today, I have completed your religion for you, perfected My blessing upon you, and have chosen Islam as your religion.” (Surah Al-Ma'idah 5:3)
This verse was revealed on the day of Arafah, during the Farewell Hajj of the Prophet ﷺ, in the tenth year of the Hijrah. It marked the completion of Islam, affirming that no new legislation, additions, or changes would be needed after this point.
- Imam Ibn Kathir, commenting on this verse, said:
هَذِهِ أَكْبَرُ نِعْمَةِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ عَلَىٰ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ، حَيْثُ أَكْمَلَ لَهُمْ دِينَهُمْ فَلَا يَحْتَاجُونَ إِلَىٰ دِينٍ غَيْرِهِ، وَلَا إِلَىٰ نَبِيٍّ غَيْرَ نَبِيِّهِمْ
“This is one of the greatest blessings of Allah upon this Ummah, for He completed their religion for them. They are not in need of any other religion, nor any prophet other than their Prophet.” (Tafsir al-Qur’an al-A’zeem: 3:314)
Thus, Islam is the final and complete divine legislation. No other system, ideology, or belief system can complement or replace it. The Qur'an and Sunnah are sufficient for guiding humanity until the end of time.
Who Has the Authority to Declare Halal and Haram?
One of the fundamental principles of Islamic jurisprudence is that only Allah ﷻ has the authority to declare something halal (permissible) or haram (forbidden). He conveys His rulings through the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
- Ibn Kathir further states:
فَلَا حَلَالَ إِلَّا مَا أَحَلَّهُ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ، وَلَا حَرَامَ إِلَّا مَا حَرَّمَهُ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ، وَلَا دِينَ إِلَّا مَا شَرَعَهُ اللَّهُ
“There is no halal except that which Allah and His Messenger have made halal, and no haram except that which Allah and His Messenger have made haram, and there is no religion except what Allah has legislated.” (Tafsir al-Qur’an al-A’zeem: 3:314)
This establishes a clear rule: no human being, scholar, or authority has the independent right to declare something halal or haram unless it is based on the Qur'an, the Sunnah, or the consensus (ijma') of the Ummah.
Islam is a divinely legislated religion, and all rulings must stem from divine sources.
What Is an Evidence in Islam?
From the Qur'anic verses and scholarly explanations, we derive a simple but powerful conclusion:
- Evidence (dalil) in Islam consists of three primary sources:
- The Qur'an – The direct word of Allah ﷻ.
- The Sunnah – The sayings, actions, and approvals of the Prophet ﷺ.
- Ijma' (Consensus) – The agreement of scholars on a religious matter.
These are the foundations upon which all Islamic rulings stand. Any claim of halal or haram must be backed by these sources.
The Role of the Prophet ﷺ in Conveying Rulings
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was not just a messenger in a general sense; he was the means through which Allah’s rulings were made known to humanity. The religion of Islam is what was legislated on the tongue of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
This understanding emphasises that any religious claim must be sourced from the Qur'an and Sunnah.
Thus, when scholars derive rulings, they do not introduce personal opinions detached from divine revelation. Instead, they extract rulings from these sacred sources using the principles of Islamic jurisprudence.
The Final Authority: Allah and His Messenger ﷺ
Islam is not based on personal opinions, nor is it open to alteration by time or societal trends. The only legislative authority belongs to Allah ﷻ, conveyed through the Qur'an and the Sunnah.
Anyone who makes a claim about Islam—whether it is about belief, worship, halal and haram, or any other matter—must bring evidence from these sources.
- The Qur'an explicitly warns against following anything besides divine revelation:
اتَّبِعُوا مَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكُم مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا مِن دُونِهِ أَوْلِيَاءَ
“Follow that which has been sent down to you from your Lord, and do not follow besides Him any allies.” (Surah Al-A'raf 7:3)
This command leaves no ambiguity—our guidance must come from what Allah has revealed, not from external ideologies or personal interpretations.
Conclusion: Holding Firm to True Evidence
Understanding evidence in Islam is crucial for maintaining a pure and authentic faith. The Qur’an, the Sunnah, and the consensus of scholars form the unshakable foundation of Islamic rulings. No human being, regardless of status or knowledge, can alter divine legislation.
Islam is complete. The Qur’an has been revealed. The Prophet ﷺ has conveyed the message. The scholars have preserved the teachings. Now, it is upon every Muslim to hold firm to the truth and follow the evidence.
So, what is evidence in Islam?
It is what Allah ﷻ revealed in His Book, what the Prophet ﷺ taught, and what the scholars have unanimously agreed upon. Nothing more, nothing less.
May Allah ﷻ guide us to follow His revelation and grant us firmness in our deen. Ameen.
Take the First Step Towards Unshakable Faith and Authentic Knowledge
In a world filled with doubts, misconceptions, and ideological attacks on Islam, how confident are you in your understanding of your religion? Are you ready to strengthen your faith, refine your worship, and gain the knowledge that will protect you from the confusion spread by deviant sects and opponents of Islam?
At AMAU Academy, we offer structured, authentic Islamic education designed for Muslims from all walks of life. Whether you're looking for a full-time or part-time program, our courses are rooted in the Qur’an, Sunnah, and the classical texts studied by scholars for centuries.
Join our Student of Knowledge Program or the Seeker of Knowledge Program and start your journey towards deeper understanding, unwavering faith, and a stronger connection with Allah ﷻ.
