Refuting the claim that every person has the right to interpret the verses of the Qur'an
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Q2: There are those who advocate for the right of every person to interpret the verses of the Qur'an according to the extent of their understanding of them and their circumstances and positions, on the basis that the text is sacred, but fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) or the understanding of the text is not sacred. An example of this is the text: the verses of the Kursi (Footstool) and the 'Arsh (Throne) and the Hand of Allah. And if this claim is false, who has the right of interpretation, and what is the sanctity of this interpretation? We ask for an explanation of verse (7) of Surat al-Imran:
[Ali 'Imran 3:7] . And we ask for clarification of what are the mutashabih (ambiguous) verses and what are the muhkam (clear) verses , and who are the rasi khun fi al-'ilm (those firmly grounded in knowledge) to whom Allah has entrusted its interpretation or guided them to it?
A2 : It is not permissible to interpret the Qur'an except for the people of knowledge who are aware of the methods of interpretation, and it is not permissible to interpret the Qur'an with ignorance and desire; because of his saying (peace and blessings be upon him):Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2950Da'if (Darussalam) . Narrated by al-Tirmidhi . Understanding the text is specific to the people of knowledge; it is not for everyone to rely on their understanding while they are ignorant; because this is speaking about Allah without knowledge, and Allah has placed speaking about Him without knowledge above shirk (associating partners with Allah), He said: [Al-A'raf 7:33]
And the verses of the Kursi (Footstool) and the 'Arsh (Throne) and the Hand and others, these are matters of 'aqidah (creed) into which ijtihad (independent legal reasoning) does not enter, and they are established on their meaning as they came, without ta'wil (figurative interpretation) and without any entry for personal understandings in them. And the mutashabih (ambiguous) verses here, and Allah knows best, are: the summarized verses and the absolute verses, and the muhkam (clear) verses are the detailed verses for these summarized ones and the ones that restrict them. And the rasi khun fi al-'ilm (those firmly grounded in knowledge) are the specialists in Islamic knowledge and understanding the texts. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and his Companions.
It is He who has sent down to you, [O Muhammad], the Book; in it are verses [that are] precise - they are the foundation of the Book - and others unspecific. As for those in whose hearts is deviation [from truth], they will follow that of it which is unspecific, seeking discord and seeking an interpretation [suitable to them]. And no one knows its [true] interpretation except Allah. But those firm in knowledge say, "We believe in it. All [of it] is from our Lord." And no one will be reminded except those of understanding.
هُوَ الَّذِي أَنْـزَلَ عَلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ مِنْهُ آيَاتٌ مُحْكَمَاتٌ هُنَّ أُمُّ الْكِتَابِ وَأُخَرُ مُتَشَابِهَاتٌ فَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ زَيْغٌ فَيَتَّبِعُونَ مَا تَشَابَهَ مِنْهُ ابْتِغَاءَ الْفِتْنَةِ وَابْتِغَاءَ تَأْوِيلِهِ وَمَا يَعْلَمُ تَأْوِيلَهُ إِلا اللَّهُ وَالرَّاسِخُونَ فِي الْعِلْمِ يَقُولُونَ آمَنَّا بِهِ كُلٌّ مِنْ عِنْدِ رَبِّنَا وَمَا يَذَّكَّرُ إِلا أُولُو الأَلْبَابِA2 : It is not permissible to interpret the Qur'an except for the people of knowledge who are aware of the methods of interpretation, and it is not permissible to interpret the Qur'an with ignorance and desire; because of his saying (peace and blessings be upon him):
Whoever says (something) about the Qur'an without knowledge, then let him take his seat in the Fire.
من قال في القرآن بغير علم فليتبوأ مقعده من النارSay, "My Lord has only forbidden immoralities - what is apparent of them and what is concealed - and sin, and oppression without right, and that you associate with Allah that for which He has not sent down authority, and that you say about Allah that which you do not know."
قُلْ إِنَّمَا حَرَّمَ رَبِّيَ الْفَوَاحِشَ مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَمَا بَطَنَ وَالإِثْمَ وَالْبَغْيَ بِغَيْرِ الْحَقِّ وَأَنْ تُشْرِكُوا بِاللَّهِ مَا لَمْ يُنَـزِّلْ بِهِ سُلْطَانًا وَأَنْ تَقُولُوا عَلَى اللَّهِ مَا لاَ تَعْلَمُونَAnd the verses of the Kursi (Footstool) and the 'Arsh (Throne) and the Hand and others, these are matters of 'aqidah (creed) into which ijtihad (independent legal reasoning) does not enter, and they are established on their meaning as they came, without ta'wil (figurative interpretation) and without any entry for personal understandings in them. And the mutashabih (ambiguous) verses here, and Allah knows best, are: the summarized verses and the absolute verses, and the muhkam (clear) verses are the detailed verses for these summarized ones and the ones that restrict them. And the rasi khun fi al-'ilm (those firmly grounded in knowledge) are the specialists in Islamic knowledge and understanding the texts. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and his Companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.