The Qur’an-Only Movement
The Qur’an-only movement, known variously as Qur’aniyun, Quranism, or Ahl al-Qur’an, represents a marginal yet persistent reformist trend within Islam that insists on the Qur’an as the sole authoritative and sufficient source of religious guidance. Its adherents reject the binding legislative authority of Hadith—the reported sayings and actions of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ)—arguing that the Qur’an is complete, fully detailed, and divinely preserved (citing verses such as 6:114, 16:89, and 15:9), while Hadith collections, compiled centuries after the Prophet’s death, are prone to human error, contradiction, and fabrication. This position, though marginal, has appeared independently in multiple regions of the world since the late 19th century, driven by modernist impulses, rationalism, and dissatisfaction with traditional clerical authority. Historically, the movement draws partial inspiration from earlier Islamic currents such as Mu’tazilism, which prioritized reason (aql) alon...
