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Towards Understanding The Quran. Introduction Of Tafsir. Need and Methodology of Tafsir. Scholars are required to elaborate upon the meanings of Allah SWT’s Speech and to convey the meanings Seek the meanings from proper resources
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Towards Understanding The Quran Introduction Of Tafsir
Need and Methodology of Tafsir • Scholars are required to elaborate upon the meanings of Allah SWT’s Speech and to convey the meanings • Seek the meanings from proper resources • Scholars are required to learn and convey the meanings, just as Allah SWT said, (And remember) when Allah took a covenant from those who were given the Scripture (Jews and Christians) to make it known and clear to mankind, and not to hide it, but they threw it away behind their backs, and purchased with it some miserable gain. And indeed worst is that which they bought. (Al-Imran 3:187)
Need and Methodology of Tafsir • And Allah SWT says Verily, those who purchase a small gain at the cost of Allah’s covenant and their oaths, they shall have no portion in the Hereafter (Paradise). Neither will Allah speak to them not look at them on the Day of Resurrection, nor will He purify them, and they shall have a painful torment. (Al-Imran 3:77)
Need and Methodology of Tafsir • Allah SWT said Has the time not come for those who have believed that their hearts should become humbly submissive at the remembrance of Allah and what has come down of the truth? And let them not be like those who were given the Scripture before, and a long period passed over them, so their hearts hardened; and many of them are defiantly disobedient. Know that Allah gives life to the earth after its lifelessness. We have made clear to you the signs; perhaps you will understand. (Al-Hadid 57:16-17)
Other Divisions of the Text – Rukū’ • Some copies of Qur’ān have Sūradivided into paragraphs called Rukū’ • They are indicated by the symbol ع • Explanation of the Arabic numerals written with each is as follows, e.g. • The top figure (2) indicates that this is the second completed rukū’ in the respective Sūra(here Sūraal-Baqarah) • The middle figure (13) indicates that this completed rukū’ contains 13 āyāt • The lower figure (2) indicates that this is the second rukū’ in the respective juz’ (here first juz’)
Other Divisions of the Text – Hizb • Copies of Qur’ānprinted in middle east in particular have each juz’ subdivided into four hizb indicated by the sign حزب • Each hizb is again subdivided into quarters, indicated as follows (see example images below) • First quarter of the hizb • Half of the hizb • Third quarter of the hizb
Other Divisions of the Text – Manzil • Qur’ānictext is also divided into seven parts of approximately equal length, called manzil • They are indicated by the word منزل and respective number in margin.
Qur’ān As A Miracle • The Qur’ānhas features which make it unique and inimitable • This inimitability is called I’jāz al-Qur’ān(Miraculous nature) • The word I’jāzis derived from the root ‘ajaza, which has meanings ranging from ‘to be incapable, to make powerless’, to ‘to be impossible, to be inimitable’ • The inimitable nature of Qur’ānleaves its opponents powerless or incapable of meeting the challenge which the revelation posed to them
Qur’ān As A Miracle • The Qur’ānis the mu’jiza, the miracle of Prophet ﷺ Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet ﷺsaid, “Every prophet was given miracles because of which people believed but what I have been given is divine inspiration which Allah SWT has revealed to me so I hope that my followers will outnumber the followers of the other prophets on the Day of Resurrection.” (Bukhari, VI. No. 504)
Tahaddi • Prophet Muhammad ﷺwas an unlettered man (ummi) but proclaimed a recited message • The challenge (tahaddi) to others is to imitate the Qur’ānhas been posed by the revelation itself at various occasions and in various ways: Say, "Then bring a scripture from Allah which is more guiding than either of them that I may follow it, if you should be truthful.“ (Surah Al-Qasas, Ayah 49)
Tahaddi • This challenge posed by the Qur’ānhas never been met, precisely because of the reason the Qur’ānitself gives: that is cannot be done. • The tahaddi, which has not been met and, as the Qur’ānsays, cannot be met, is one of the main aspects of the unique and inimitable nature of the Qur’āncalled I’jāz
Various Aspects of I’jāz (al-Qurtubi) • Its language excels all other Arabic Language • Its style excels all other Arabic style • Its comprehensiveness cannot be matched • Its legislation cannot be surpassed • Its narrations about the unknown can only result from revelation • Its lack of contradiction with the sound natural sciences • Its fulfillment of all that it promises, both good tidings and threat • The knowledge it comprises (both legal and concerning the creation) • Its fulfillment of human needs • Its effect on the hearts of men
Various Aspects of I’jāz (al-Baqillani) • The unlettered Prophet • Prophet Muhammad ﷺ has been called ‘ummi’ , unlettered • He was not a scholar and not a historian, neither was he a philosopher nor a priest. But he proclaimed the Qur’ānand recited its many Surah and Ayat in which he informed about the earlier prophets, earlier scriptures and earlier events. • All this in spite of his belonging to an uneducated people, in one of the most remote parts of the world and far away from the centers of civilization and culture.
Various Aspects of I’jāz (al-Baqillani) • The unseen world • The prophesies Qur’āncontains are only possible with knowledge on the unseen world • The best-known such prophecy concerns the historical victory of the Romans over the Persians. The Byzantines have been defeated. In the nearest land. But they, after their defeat, will overcome. (Surah Ar-Rum, Ayat 2-3)
Various Aspects of I’jāz (al-Baqillani) • No contradictions • The message of Qur’ānwas revealed over a period of 23 years. • Revealed in both short and long parts on numerous occasions and in a variety of circumstances. • Nevertheless it is free of any contradictions Then do they not reflect upon the Qur'an? If it had been from [any] other than Allah , they would have found within it much contradiction. (Surah An-Nisa, Ayah 82)
Literary Aspect • There does not exist a piece of literature that can match the Qur’ān, with respect either to style and form or to content • This is also one of the aspects of I’jāz al-Qur’ān
Science and theQur’ān • The Qur’āncontains information on scientific facts which are in perfect agreement with the findings of man’s scientific pursuits. • As pointed out earlier, this is one of the aspects of I’jāz al-Qur’ān • In the following slides we will examine just some of the many examples
Science and theQur’ān • That all life originated from water Have those who disbelieved not considered that the heavens and the earth were a joined entity, and We separated them and made from water every living thing? Then will they not believe? (Surah Al-Anbiya, Ayat 30)
Science and theQur’ān • That the universe was in the shape of a fiery gas (which the Qur’āncalls dukhan) Then He directed Himself to the heaven while it was smoke and said to it and to the earth, "Come [into being], willingly or by compulsion." They said, "We have come willingly.“ (Surah Fussilat, Ayat 11)
Science and theQur’ān • That the oxygen content of the air is reduced at higher altitudes So whoever Allah wants to guide - He expands his breast to [contain] Islam; and whoever He wants to misguide - He makes his breast tight and constricted as though he were climbing into the sky. Thus does Allah place defilement upon those who do not believe. (Surah Al-An`am, Ayat 125)
Science and theQur’ān • That in nature everything consists of complementary elements, not only man and animals, but also plants and even inorganic matter Exalted is He who created all pairs - from what the earth grows and from themselves and from that which they do not know. (Surah Ya-Sin, Ayat 36)
Science and theQur’ān • That the embryo in the womb in enclosed by three coverings He created you from one soul. Then He made from it its mate, and He produced for you from the grazing livestock eight mates. He creates you in the wombs of your mothers, creation after creation, within three darknesses. That is Allah , your Lord; to Him belongs dominion. There is no deity except Him, so how are you averted? (Surah Az-Zumar, Ayat 6)
Science and theQur’ān • That fertilization of certain plans is done by the wind And We have sent the fertilizing winds and sent down water from the sky and given you drink from it. And you are not its retainers. (Surah Al-Hijr, Ayat 22)
Science and the Qur’ān • That each human being has permanent individual fingerprints Yes. [We are] Able [even] to proportion his fingertips. (Surah Al-Qiyamah, Ayat 4)
Science or the Qur’ān • Science and scientific truths, cannot be generally accepted as criteria for the genuineness or non-human origin of the Qur'an • Qur'an is a book of guidance for mankind and not a book of science nor a mine of cryptic notes on scientific facts • Qur'an is guidance from Allah SWT, while science is a human endeavor • Qur'an is a guidance under any circumstances irrespective of whether science, which changes continuously, seems to be in support of it or not
