Commentary on Passages from the Book of Islamic Geographical Heritage
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In the book *Islamic Geographical Heritage* by Dr. Muhammad Mahmoud Mahdineen, there are two passages. Since I am teaching this book to students at the Intermediate College in Unaizah, I ask you to clarify these two passages from the book: The first passage states: It is mentioned in *Sunan al-Tirmidhi*, in the Book of the Virtues of the Qur'an: (It is that which desires do not deviate from, tongues do not become confused by, scholars are not satiated by, it does not become old from much repetition, and its wonders are not exhausted).
And it is mentioned in his book: And based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): (Its wonders are not exhausted), we must clarify the Quranic allusions and their implications in light of the facts that science has reached, attaining thereby a level of certainty.
Is this an *athar* (report from a Companion or successor) or a hadith? Then there is also a hadith, so let us recall the hadith of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). It is narrated from Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said: (Whoever speaks about the Qur'an without knowledge, let him take his seat from the Fire). What is the authenticity of this?
This is a hadith, but there is a concern regarding its authenticity. The wonders of the Qur'an are undoubtedly inexhaustible, because it is the speech of Allah (Mighty and Majestic). However, the allusions mentioned in it include both truth and falsehood. The allusions aimed at by the Sufis and others from the people of imagination and philosophers are undoubtedly false. As for allusions to the wonders of the universe and what happens in it, if reality confirms them, then there is nothing wrong with it, because many things were confirmed by reality; the Qur'an alluded to them, and then reality confirmed them, whereas initially they did not occur to the imagination and people did not expect them to happen, yet they did happen.
This hadith of Ibn Abbas is authentic and well-known, and it is understood to apply to one who interprets the Qur'an according to his own opinion, rather than what is required by the Shari'ah or what is required by the Arabic language.For example: The interpretation of the people of desires,They interpret the Qur'an according to their opinions, for example: He says regarding the saying of Allah the Exalted: [Al-Ma'idah: 64] He says: The meaning of "hands" is grace, not the actual hands.
And he says: In His saying the Exalted: [Al-A'raf: 54] Meaning: He took possession of it.
And so on. This is interpreting the Qur'an according to one's own opinion. As for one who interprets the Qur'an according to what is required by the Shari'ah or what is required by the language, where there is no specific Shari'ah reality, then there is nothing wrong with it.
And it is mentioned in his book: And based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): (Its wonders are not exhausted), we must clarify the Quranic allusions and their implications in light of the facts that science has reached, attaining thereby a level of certainty.
Is this an *athar* (report from a Companion or successor) or a hadith? Then there is also a hadith, so let us recall the hadith of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). It is narrated from Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said: (Whoever speaks about the Qur'an without knowledge, let him take his seat from the Fire). What is the authenticity of this?
This is a hadith, but there is a concern regarding its authenticity. The wonders of the Qur'an are undoubtedly inexhaustible, because it is the speech of Allah (Mighty and Majestic). However, the allusions mentioned in it include both truth and falsehood. The allusions aimed at by the Sufis and others from the people of imagination and philosophers are undoubtedly false. As for allusions to the wonders of the universe and what happens in it, if reality confirms them, then there is nothing wrong with it, because many things were confirmed by reality; the Qur'an alluded to them, and then reality confirmed them, whereas initially they did not occur to the imagination and people did not expect them to happen, yet they did happen.
This hadith of Ibn Abbas is authentic and well-known, and it is understood to apply to one who interprets the Qur'an according to his own opinion, rather than what is required by the Shari'ah or what is required by the Arabic language.For example: The interpretation of the people of desires,They interpret the Qur'an according to their opinions, for example: He says regarding the saying of Allah the Exalted:
Rather, both His hands are extended
بَلْ يَدَاهُ مَبْسُوطَتَانِAnd he says: In His saying the Exalted:
He rose above the Throne
اسْتَوَى عَلَى الْعَرْشِAnd so on. This is interpreting the Qur'an according to one's own opinion. As for one who interprets the Qur'an according to what is required by the Shari'ah or what is required by the language, where there is no specific Shari'ah reality, then there is nothing wrong with it.
