Is it permissible to interpret the Qur'an by relying on language alone without referring to the Sunnah?

The questioner : This is a question that is frequently discussed, and perhaps the answer was sufficient in some of the tapes, but there is no harm in answering it. Is it permissible to interpret the Qur'an by relying on language alone without referring to the Sunnah? This is the question.

The Shaykh : It is obligatory for anyone who wants to interpret the Qur'an to have knowledge of the Arabic language first, because the Qur'an, as is known to everyone, was revealed in a clear Arabic language. However, this is not sufficient. If the most eloquent of the Arabs came and wanted to interpret the Qur'an in the language in which the Qur'an was revealed, he would not be able to interpret this Qur'an correctly. That is because, according to the scholars, there are two languages: the customary language in which the Qur'an was revealed, and the legal language. Allah the Exalted introduced new meanings into words, and perhaps into sentences that were known to the Arabs in ancient times. For example, Hajj and Zakah. Linguistically, Hajj means intention, and Zakah linguistically means purification. But the Lawgiver assigned to the word Hajj the meaning of the worship that you know, such that if one neglects one of its pillars, he has not performed it. Similarly for Zakah, and similarly for Salah. Linguistically, Salah means supplication But when Salah is used, it means a worship that has its conditions and its pillars, and so on. Therefore, no one, no matter how knowledgeable he is in the Arabic language, can interpret the Qur'an correctly except by relying on the legal language. This legal language is taken from two sources: the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). This is what is explained in His saying, the Exalted: This verse contains two things: one is the explained, and the other is the explainer. The explained is what was revealed to the Messenger of Allah from the speech of Allah, which is the Noble Qur'an. As for the explainer, it is the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) through his Sunnah, which is divided into three categories: his saying (peace be upon him), or his doing, or his approval. Whoever does not know his sayings (peace be upon him), his actions, and what he approved of seeing among the people, can never interpret the Qur'an, and he will make very serious errors. Indeed, some examples occurred during the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) when His saying, the Exalted: This was because they understood "injustice" here in an absolute sense, and in reality, no one after the prophets is protected from committing such absolute injustice. Therefore, they feared that this verse would include them, such that they would not be among the guided, because they had been afflicted with injustice. So he (peace and blessings be upon him) said to them: ليس الأمر هذا الذي تقولون ألم تقرأوا قول الله تبارك وتعالى وإذ قال لقمان لابنه وهو يعظه يا بني لا تشرك بالله إن الشرك لظلم عظيم It is not as you say. Have you not read the saying of Allah, Blessed and Exalted: And [recall] when Luqman said to his son while he was advising him: "O my son, do not associate [anything] with Allah. Indeed, association [with Him] is great injustice." So the injustice mentioned in the first verse is the injustice mentioned in the other verse. If the Companions of the Messenger (peace be upon him) found it difficult to interpret "injustice" in the first verse, then it will be even more difficult for those after them to understand what is easier than this difficulty. Therefore, every interpreter must be well-versed, to the extent of his ability, in the Sunnah in its three categories: his saying (peace be upon him), his doing, and his approval.