The best discourse is God’s Book, the best guidance is that given by Muhammad, and the worst things are those which are novelties. Every innovation is error.” Muslim transmitted it.
The Excellence of Divine Revelation
"The best discourse is God's Book" signifies the Qur'an's supreme status above all human speech, containing perfect guidance, wisdom, and divine legislation that transcends temporal limitations.
Prophetic Guidance as the Perfect Model
"The best guidance is that given by Muhammad" establishes the Sunnah as the authoritative interpretation and practical implementation of the Qur'an, forming the complete Islamic way of life.
The Prohibition of Religious Innovation
"The worst things are those which are novelties" refers specifically to innovations in matters of religion (bid'ah), which corrupt pure Islamic teachings and lead believers astray from the Prophetic path.
"Every innovation is error" establishes the fundamental principle that all religious innovations - regardless of apparent goodness - are deviations from the straight path, as the religion was perfected during the Prophet's lifetime.
Scholarly Commentary from Mishkat al-Masabih
This hadith (Mishkat al-Masabih 141) establishes the three foundational principles of Islamic orthodoxy: adherence to the Qur'an as primary source, following the Sunnah as practical guidance, and rejection of all religious innovations. Classical scholars emphasize that this safeguards the religion's purity across generations.