Transparent and Allegorical Revelations of God

Transparent and Allegorical Revelations of God

Surah ‘Aali ‘Imraan (The Family of Imran - 3)

Stage – 1, Verse – 7 of 200, Section –1 of 20, (Part – 3)

BisMIllaahir-Rahmaanir-Rahiim

In the name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful

7.  He it is who hath revealed unto thee (Muhammad) the Scripture wherein are clear Revelations - they are the substance of the Book - and others (which are) allegorical. But those in whose hearts is doubt pursue, forsooth, that which is allegorical seeking (to cause) dissension by seeking to explain it. None knoweth its explanation save Allah. And those who are of sound instruction say: We believe therein; the whole is from our Lord; but only men of understanding really heed.

7.  Huwallazii  ‘unzila  ‘alaykal- Kitaaba  minhu  ‘aayaatum-Muhkamaatun  hunna  ‘Ummul-  Kitaabi  wa  ‘ukharu  Mutashaa-bihaat.  Fa- ‘ammal-laziina  fii  quluubihim  zay-gun-  fayattabi- ‘uuna  maa  tashaabaha  minhub-tigaa- ‘al-fitnati  wabtigaaa-‘a  ta’-wiilih.  Wa  maa  ya’-lamu  ta’-wiilahuuu  ‘illAllaah.  War-Raasikhuuna  fil- ‘ilmi  yaquu-luuna  ‘aamannaa  bihii, kullum-min  ‘indi  Rabbinaa.  Wa  maa  yazzakkaru  ‘illaaa  ‘ulul- ‘albaab.

Lesson

       

Muhkamaatun – (clear), those clear and apparent verses of Holy Qur’an, objects of which are determined and there is no doubt in their meanings.

‘Ummul-  Kitaabi – (the substance of the Book), substance of everything is called ‘Ummu. Here this fact has been mentioned that those verses of Holy Qur’an, which are clear and obvious, which have only one meaning, are substantial and touchstones.

Mutashaa-bih – (Allegorical), that is such Word, which has reciprocally several matching meanings, it would be difficult to distinguish between them and come out different points of view from its explanation. Only the religious scholars may make difference between them. It is the duty of public to follow the real scholars in the meanings of such verses. They should not rely on their own sense.  

‘Al-laziina  fii  quluubihim  zay-gun – (those in whose hearts is doubt), it signifies towards those nations who fixed some allegorical verses seeking (to cause) dissension and by seeking to explain it as real, and by leaving behind guidance and teachings of their Prophets (peace be upon them).   

Clear And Allegorical Verses

When Christians of Najraan were rendered helpless from all obvious arguments of the Messenger of Allah Almighty (grace, glory, blessings and peace be upon him), they said, “Hindmost you also believe in Jesus (peace be upon him) as the Spirit of God and Word of Allah. It is sufficient to prove our claim.” The reply of their useless objection has been given here in a simple way. Many dissensions and doubts can be dispelled after understanding them.

Allah Almighty commanded that there are two types of Revelations in Holy Qur’an and other Heavenly Scriptures like Torah and Gospel etc.

·         Those verses which have ‘known’ and ‘certain’ meanings. Such verses are called ‘Aayaatum-Muhkamaatun and in fact root and essence of the entire teachings of the Scripture are these Revelations.

·         Name of the other type of Revelations is Mutashaa-bihaat. That is to say, some doubt happens in knowing the meanings of such verses.  

Correct method is that the meaning of second type of verses should be seen in the light of first type of verses. Which meanings seem opposite, those should be refuted. If the meaning does not become manifest despite attempt, even then he should not cross the limits who seeks the meanings. No individual is omniscient that he may know everything. He should remain silent thinking about his knowledge. He should not issue the meanings with wrong method, which is against universally accepted principles of religion and clear Revelations. For example, Holy Qur’an has explained about Jesus (peace be upon him) ‘Inna  huwa  ‘illaa  ‘abdun  ‘An-‘am-naa  ‘alay-hi (Indeed he is a servant only, to whom We favored). It guides us at another place, ‘Inna  masala  ‘Iisaa  ‘indAllaahi  kamasali  ‘Aadama  khalaq-tahuu  min  tu-raabin (Likeness of Jesus is just like Adam. Allah created him from the earth). And it has also been proved at some other places that Jesus (peace be upon him) is neither God, nor son of God.

Now if any person runs behind resemblances of (KalmaHullaah) ‘The Word of Allah’ and  (RuuhUllaah) ‘The Spirit of God’ etc. by closing his eyes from all these Muhkamaat. And takes such superficial meanings, which are against the common explanation of the Scripture, by leaving those meanings which are suitable to the clear verses, he is surely obstinate and perverse. Some malevolent people want to ensnare the people astray by misleading them. And some people, who are weak in their belief, wish to imply such Mutashaa-bihaat (allegorical verses) according to their own judgment and will. Whereas only Allah Almighty Knows their true meanings.  

Those people who keep strong knowledge, they recognize the ‘Aayaatum-Muhkamaat and Mutashaa-bihaat from Allah Almighty. They believe that the both types of Revelations are revealed from the same source. Therefore, they try to understand Mutashaa-bihaat in the light of Muhkamaat and which part is out of their sense; they leave it upon Allah Almighty because He is the best Knower. In short, it is the duty of a common person who has ordinary knowledge that he should not wrangle with Mutashaa-bihaat, which have more than one meaning. He should ask its meaning from religious scholars, and which verses have clear meanings, he should act corresponding to them without any delay and Reluctance. 

Transliterated Holy Qur’an in Roman Script & Translated from Arabic to English by Marmaduke Pickthall, Published by Pak Company, 17-Urdu Bazaar, Lahore, Lesson collected from Dars e Qur’aan published By Idara Islaah wa Tableegh, Lahore (translated Urdu to English by Muhammad Sharif)