The Main Sources of Islamic Teachings

The main sources of legislation and guidance in Islam are the Qur'an and the teachings of the Prophet, may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him, which is known as sunnah. The prophet's teachings include two types:

• The Hadith al-Nabawi, which constitutes the main part of the Prophet's teachings. It is narrations by the companions that tell us the sayings and/or doings of the prophet, may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him. Both wordings and meanings are from the Prophet.
  
• The Hadith al-Qudsi, which is narrations by the Prophet (PBUH) telling us of divine messages directly inspired to him in meanings only from Allah, in most instances without the intermediate role of the arch angel Gabriel. The meanings of this type of hadith are from Allah, while the wordings are the prophet's way of expressing these meanings.
  

There is a greater difference between the Qur'an and the-Hadith al-Qudsi. The Qur'an is Allah's own words and unmatched speech revealed to the Prophet by means of the arch angel Gabriel. It is a living miracle that proves the Prophet-hood of Muhammad, (PBUH) to the world and continues to guide mankind to the truth. The role of the angel in the case of the Qur'an, was conveying the message exactly as he received it from Allah to the Prophet, including the mode of its recitation, which is known as tajweed. The role of Prophet Muhammad (BPUH) was to commit the Qur'anic verses to memory exactly as it was revealed to him, and recite it to people. This is, in addition to understanding the message, living by it and teaching people what it implied and how to implement it.

As appears, the Hadith al- Qudsi is different from the Qur'an; it is not Qur'an, and it does not acquire the status of the Qur'an in any way.