It was narrated that Zayd ibn Arqam, may Allaah be pleased with him, said: "The Messenger of Allaah, peace and blessings be upon him, stood up and addressed us one day at a well called Khum, between Makkah and Madeenah. He praised Allaah and exhorted and reminded us. Then he, peace and blessings be upon him, said: ‘O people, I am a human being; soon the messenger of my Lord [i.e., the Angel of death] will come to me and I will answer his call. I am leaving among you two important things: the first of which is the Book of Allaah, in which there is guidance and light, so adhere to it and follow it’ – and he urged us to adhere to the Book of Allaah."

In another variant narration: "The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "I am leaving among you two important things: the first of which is the Book of Allah, The Almighty, which is the rope of Allah, The Almighty. whoever follows it will be on guidance and whoever abandons it will be on misguidance."

The Verification of the Hadeeth:

 It was reported by Imam Muslim, may Allaah have mercy upon him, in his book the Saheeh, the book of the virtues, the chapter of the virtues of ‘Ali, may Allaah be pleased with him, (2408).

(Khum) refers to a well known watering place which is three miles away from Al-Juhfah.

The reason behind making the Noble Quran and the household of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, two heavy and important matters is that they are of great status and honor. It was also said that is because of the heavy duties and obligation that should be observed towards them.

The Hadeeth explains for the Islamic nation that the Noble Quran is guidance and light. They are two characteristics of the Noble Quran and stated in it many times. Even the Sunnah came to add more confirmation for both attributes in the above stated Hadeeth. But what is the meaning of such two characteristics?

Firstly, describing the Noble Quran as Being Guidance:

Guidance linguistically means showing and leading to something; however, Allah, The Almighty, mentioned specially the word (guidance) about what He, The Exalted, supported and gave and made it exclusive to Himself such as {…a guidance for those conscious of Allah} [Quran 2: 2] and {…Say, "Indeed, the guidance of Allah is the [only] guidance…} [Quran 6: 71]

As for knowing and seeking the way of guidance, one can only attain it by serious searching for it. This principle applies to the matters of the worldly life or of the Hereafter. Allah, The Almighty, Says (what means): {And it is He who placed for you the stars that you may be guided by them through the darknesses of the land and sea. We have detailed the signs for a people who know.} [Quran 6: 97] 

As for the reason behind calling Quran (Guidance), it is because it has indication and reference to the truth, differentiation between it and falsehood, clear verses, evident proofs, plain signs that guide and lead one to the goodness of this life and Hereafter. Actually, there is no wonder. That is because the One Who sent it down, spoke it, commanded believing in it is the Creator of the whole universe and He, The Exalted, knows what is good for His worshippers and what may reform their way of living in this life and on the day they return to Him.

Muslim individual or any sane person has no doubt that the Noble Quran is the guidance. It is the guidance from misguidance and heart blindness. It is the guidance from disbelief and hypocrisy. It is the guidance from assault and aggression. It is the guidance from embarrassment and confusion. It is the guidance from dissoluteness and wantonness. It is the guidance from corruption and punishment. In brief, it is the guidance from every affliction and distress." (1). 

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(1)         Al-Huda wal Bayaan fi Asmaa' Al-Quran 1/189 with a modification.

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