3. BASIC RULES TO BE FOLLOWED IN THE STUDY
OF THE QUR'AN
Apart
from the concepts behind crucial Arabic words, it is also necessary to follow a
very important rule for the study of the Qur'an. This is given in the following
sura:
(3:7)
Allah has sent down this Book to you, (O Prophet!) which includes verses of two
kinds. The first consists of those verses which have definite meaning (mohkamat)
and constitute the foundation of Allah's Laws. The second kind is allegorical (mutashabihat).
But those in whose hearts is perversity, they follow the part of it which is
allegorical, seeking to mislead and seeking to give it their own
interpretation. But those well grounded in knowledge (ilm) say: "We
believe in it, it is all from our Sustainer", but only men of
understanding really heed.1
3.1
Verses which are clear and not subject to interpretation
This
refers to the verses which are very easy to understand and not subject to any
interpretation. Basically, these are laws, some of which can only be
implemented in a real Islamic state, while others, particularly the moral
codes, can be used for the development of further laws as well as for personal
codes. Here are some examples:
(4:135) O
ye who believe! Be ye staunch in justice, witnesses for Allah, even though it
be against yourselves or your parents or your kindred, whether the case be of a
rich man or a poor man, for Allah is nearer to both than ye are. So follow not
passion lest ye lapse from truth and if ye lapse or fall away, then lo! Allah
is ever informed of what ye do.
(6:152)
And approach not the wealth of the orphan save with that which is better, till
he reach maturity. Give full measure and full weight, in justice. We task not
any soul beyond its scope. And if ye give your word, do justice thereunto, even
though it be (against) a kinsman; and fulfil the covenant of Allah. This He
commandeth you that haply ye may remember.
The
above verses are self-explanatory and do not require the help of any other
source like the Hadith, to explain them. The guidance in them is truly
universal, but it will require a high degree of courage and moral conviction
for anyone to practise them in real life. A large number of such verses,
covering different areas in life, are given in sections 6.1 and 6.2 of chapter
6, Basic Teachings of the Qur'an.
3.2
Verses which are allegorical
Let us
now look at the verses which are allegorical. The word 'allegorical' means
describing one subject under the guise of another. In the present context this
word applies to subjects of which we have no knowledge at present and therefore
cannot explain their real meaning. People who have knowledge, accept their own
limitations and say that, with the state of knowledge as it exists today, it is
not possible to explain such verses. However, it does not mean that the verses
will remain allegorical forever, because if that were so, there would be no point in their revelation.
What it means is that, as our knowledge of the universe expands through
scientific research, more and more verses will be understood in their true
light. There are many examples to
support this point.2
To
understand these verses from the Qur'an a thorough linguistic knowledge, in
itself, is not sufficient. What is needed, along with such a linguistic
grounding, is a highly diversified knowledge of science. I am not suggesting
for a moment that everybody should start studying all the various branches of
science in order to understand the Qur'an. What I am saying is that with the
progress of science nothing in the Qur'an will remain allegorical - or hidden -
forever. The only thing we should be wary of, is people trying to mislead by
seeking to force their own interpretations. Dr. Maurice Bucaille, in his book The
Bible, The Qur'an and Science quotes many examples of verses which had been
previously mistranslated due to lack of
scientific knowledge. Let me give a few examples from his book:
He
translates verse 55:33 as: "O assembly of Jinns and Men, if you can
penetrate regions of the heavens and the earth, then penetrate them! You will
not penetrate them save with power".3
The
verse is talking about the conquest of space, which although at its infancy,
has become a reality now because of the
powers of intelligence and ingenuity given to man. The verse also talks of the
exploration of the depth of the earth.
The
traditional interpretation of this verse is a purely mystic one that some
people have postulated quite wrongly.
Two
other verses describe the peculiar human reaction to space travel: confused
sight as in drunkenness, and the feeling of being bewitched,-- and this is
exactly what astronauts have experienced. The translation of the verses is as
follows:
(15:14,15)
Even if We opened unto them a gate to Heaven and they were to continue
ascending therein, they would say: our sight is confused as in drunkenness. Nay
we are people bewitched.4
A very
good example of allegorical verses is the verses which give the description of
Paradise and Hell. The Qur'an -- notwithstanding very vivid physical imagery --
warns us that they are to be taken as analogies and parables.
One
must remember that whereas the straightforward verses constitute a code to be
practised in actual life, the allegorical verses will only open up their real
meaning with the progress of scientific research as it continues to help us
unravel the mysteries of Allah's creation. The Qur'an, in many of its
verses, encourages research into
Nature, in which there are great benefits for mankind. However, the
benefits can only be obtained through hard work.
Finally,
it is essential to note that Allah says in several verses that He has made the
Qur'an easy to remember, and this is proved by the fact that countless people
in the past, as well as at present, have memorised the whole of the Qur'an. As
far as the fundamental verses are concerned, they are easy to understand, and
these are the verses which should guide one's life in the real world, so
that strife and division in human beings can be eliminated. Sadly our ways of living
do not reflect these teachings, and we suffer as a consequence.
References:
1.
Exposition of the Qur'an, by Gulam Ahmed Parwez.
2. The
Bible The Qur'an and Science, by Dr. Maurice Bucaille.
3.
Ibid., p. 174.
4.
Ibid., p. 175.
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