Science of Al-Quran : Tafsir and Takwil

TAFSIR TAFSIR AND AND TA'WILTA'WIL

TafsirTafsir : LITERAL MEANING: LITERAL MEANING

• Tafsir Tafsir ((), to explain, to expound, to ), to explain, to expound, to interpret etc.interpret etc.

• : detailed statement: detailed statement

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• And they do not come to you with an argument except that We bring you the truth and the best explanation.

TECHNICAL MEANINGTECHNICAL MEANING::

•• A discipline of knowledge that lead to A discipline of knowledge that lead to

understand the words of Allah which were understand the words of Allah which were revealed to His messenger Muhammad revealed to His messenger Muhammad PBUH, an explanation of its meaning, PBUH, an explanation of its meaning, extraction of its legislations and its extraction of its legislations and its wisdoms.wisdoms.

TA'WILTA'WIL : l i teral meaning: l i teral meaning

• Literally: From Literally: From , to return, to attribute. , to return, to attribute.

TECHNICAL MEANINGTECHNICAL MEANING::

• A. Majority scholars said: same like A. Majority scholars said: same like TafsirTafsir. . Based on the Prophet PBUH’s prayer for Based on the Prophet PBUH’s prayer for Ibn Abbas:Ibn Abbas:

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– May Allah bestow him with expertise in May Allah bestow him with expertise in religion matters and teach him religion matters and teach him ta’wil.ta’wil.

• B. Other scholars differentiate.B. Other scholars differentiate.

TafsirTafsir• Explanation based on Explanation based on

NARRATION (NARRATION (riwayahriwayah))• Quoted from traditions or Quoted from traditions or

reports of Prophet, reports of Prophet, Companions, etc. Companions, etc. (al-naql (al-naql al-masmu’)al-masmu’)

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• They are the tribe of They are the tribe of ‘Aws‘Aws and and KhazrajKhazraj

TaTa ’’wilwil • Explanation based on Explanation based on

CORRECT OPINION and CORRECT OPINION and UNDERSTANDING UNDERSTANDING (dirayah)(dirayah)

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• Go forth, whether light or heavy, and strive with your wealth and your lives in the cause of Allah

• A. youth and elderlyA. youth and elderly

• B. rich or poorB. rich or poor

• C. healthy or sickC. healthy or sick

DIFFERENCES between DIFFERENCES between Tafsir Tafsir and and TaTa’’wilwil

CLASSIFICATION OF CLASSIFICATION OF TAFSIR AND ITS TAFSIR AND ITS SYMPTOMSSYMPTOMS1.1. TAFSIR BI AL-MA'THUR (narrations) TAFSIR BI AL-MA'THUR (narrations) 2.2. TAFSIR BI AL-RA'I (opinions)TAFSIR BI AL-RA'I (opinions)3.3. TAFSIR BI AL-ISHARAH (signs)TAFSIR BI AL-ISHARAH (signs)

11- - TAFSIR AL-MA'THURTAFSIR AL-MA'THUR

• QurQur’’an by Qur’anan by Qur’an• QurQur’’an by Hadithan by Hadith• QurQur’’an by Sahabah’s reportsan by Sahabah’s reports• QurQur’’an by Tabi`un’s reportsan by Tabi`un’s reports

EXAMPLES: QUREXAMPLES: QUR ’’AN BY AN BY QURQUR ’’ANAN

•• It is explained in Al-Infitar 17-19.It is explained in Al-Infitar 17-19.

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• And what can make you know what is the Day of Recompense? It is the Day when a soul will not possess for another soul [power to do] a thing; and the command, that Day, is [entirely] with Allah .

EXAMPLE: QUREXAMPLE: QUR ’’AN BY AN BY SUNNAHSUNNAH

• 2626 ( (--

• For them who have done good is the best [reward] and extra. No darkness will cover their faces, nor humiliation. Those are companions of Paradise; they will abide therein eternally

•heavenheaven• Seeing Allah SWTSeeing Allah SWT

2. TAFSIR2. TAFSIR BI-AL-RA'IBI-AL-RA'I (opinion)(opinion)

• Based on one's wise opinion, Based on one's wise opinion, IjtihadIjtihad and and judgment.judgment.

• ScholarsScholars’’ difference: to accept or to reject. difference: to accept or to reject.• Acceptable: balanced one.Acceptable: balanced one.

Two kindsTwo kinds::

• A) A) Ra'iRa'i al-Mahmudal-Mahmud: conforms to the : conforms to the Qur'an, Sunnah, objectives of shari`ah, Qur'an, Sunnah, objectives of shari`ah, Arabic language and its style.Arabic language and its style.

• B) B) Ra'iRa'i al-Madhmumal-Madhmum: against Mahmud. It : against Mahmud. It is the is the tafsirtafsir by mere opinion. by mere opinion.

EXAMPLEEXAMPLE::

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3. TAFSIR AL-ISHARIY 3. TAFSIR AL-ISHARIY (signs)(signs)• Explanations based on indirect indications Explanations based on indirect indications

of the of the ayatayat of the Qur'an. of the Qur'an. • They claim that only the enlightened They claim that only the enlightened

slaves of Allah understand its meaning.slaves of Allah understand its meaning.

EXAMPLESEXAMPLES::

• MOSES AND KHIDR:MOSES AND KHIDR:

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• And they found a servant from among Our servants to whom we had given mercy from us and had taught him from Us a [certain] knowledge.

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• And fear Allah . And Allah teaches you.

• Ayah of Ayah of Ma'idahMa'idah about the completion of about the completion of Religion.Religion.

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• This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favor upon you and have approved for you Islam as religion.

• Everybody was happy with this Everybody was happy with this ayahayah, but , but 'Umar.'Umar.