The Intended Meaning of Abandoning the Blameworthy Ta'wil (Figurative Interpretation) of the Texts of the Book and the Sunnah
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The questioner:
What is meant by abandoning the blameworthy ta'wil of the texts of the Book and the Sunnah?
The Shaykh:
Blameworthy ta'wil (figurative interpretation); originally, ta'wil means interpretation. An interpretation is called ta'wil. Ta'wil is also what a thing leads to, or its ultimate outcome. For example, the realities of the names and attributes, and the realities of things hidden from us, these are known only to Allah. These are known only to Allah: the realities and the ultimate outcomes are known only to Allah, Mighty and Majestic. Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, said:[Ali 'Imran 3:7] [Ali 'Imran 3:7] So ta'wil is what a thing leads to, what a thing leads to and its final outcome, such as the reality of Paradise, the reality of the Fire, and what Allah has informed us of regarding the matters of the Hereafter, such as the essence of the names and attributes of Allah. These are known only to Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He.
As for the meaning, we know it. We know the meaning and the interpretation. So ta'wil is used to mean interpretation, and it is used to mean the realities of things and their ultimate outcomes, and this is known only to Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He. Yes.
The presenter:
Yes, Honorable Shaykh. If there is blameworthy ta'wil and praiseworthy ta'wil, Shaykh.
The Shaykh:
Yes, the praiseworthy ta'wil (figurative interpretation) is what we mentioned, meaning that the outcomes of things are delegated to Allah, delegated to Allah; no one knows them except Allah. As for the meanings of the names and attributes, and the meanings of the Qur'anic verses and the Prophetic hadiths, we know the meaning, but we do not know the manner or the outcome; no one knows it except Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He. Yes.
The presenter:
May Allah reward you,
What is meant by abandoning the blameworthy ta'wil of the texts of the Book and the Sunnah?
The Shaykh:
Blameworthy ta'wil (figurative interpretation); originally, ta'wil means interpretation. An interpretation is called ta'wil. Ta'wil is also what a thing leads to, or its ultimate outcome. For example, the realities of the names and attributes, and the realities of things hidden from us, these are known only to Allah. These are known only to Allah: the realities and the ultimate outcomes are known only to Allah, Mighty and Majestic. Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, said:
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
هُوَ الَّذِي أَنزَلَ عَلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ مِنْهُ آيَاتٌ مُّحْكَمَاتٌ هُنَّ أُمُّ الْكِتَابِ وَأُخَرُ مُتَشَابِهَاتٌ فَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ زَيْغٌ فَيَتَّبِعُونَ مَا تَشَابَهَ مِنْهُ ابْتِغَاءَ الْفِتْنَةِ وَابْتِغَاءَ تَأْوِيلِهِAnd 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."
وَمَا يَعْلَمُ تَأْوِيلَهُ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَالرَّاسِخُونَ فِي الْعِلْمِ يَقُولُونَ آمَنَّا بِهِ كُلٌّ مِّنْ عِندِ رَبِّنَاAs for the meaning, we know it. We know the meaning and the interpretation. So ta'wil is used to mean interpretation, and it is used to mean the realities of things and their ultimate outcomes, and this is known only to Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He. Yes.
The presenter:
Yes, Honorable Shaykh. If there is blameworthy ta'wil and praiseworthy ta'wil, Shaykh.
The Shaykh:
Yes, the praiseworthy ta'wil (figurative interpretation) is what we mentioned, meaning that the outcomes of things are delegated to Allah, delegated to Allah; no one knows them except Allah. As for the meanings of the names and attributes, and the meanings of the Qur'anic verses and the Prophetic hadiths, we know the meaning, but we do not know the manner or the outcome; no one knows it except Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He. Yes.
The presenter:
May Allah reward you,
Source
قناة «العلامة الدكتور صالح الفوزان»، برنامج (فتاوى) (085) لمعالي الشيخ صالح الفوزان بتاريخ [1436-04-01] - كبار العلماء — youtube.com (12:02)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.