Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

 

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Dear brother Burhan

Asslamoelekum
I received your two emails in which you have cited the 7-8 verse of Ale-Imran marinating a position that Mutshabihat verses were revealed just for the sake of revelation  without any importance for human being save for recitation as they can not be understood  by human beings. Please don't take up the stick of fatwa of perversity in my heart to beat me if I don't accept your illogical position. You must answer one question: What was the purpose of those verses (Mutshabihat) if all human beings except Allah Almighty can not understand them?
Secondly, Let me cite the commentary on 7-8 verses of Ale-Imran  by Abdullah Yousuf  in which he says:" One reading, rejected by the majority of commentators but accepted by Mujahid and others would mark a break at the point here marked waqfa lazim but would run the two sentences together. In that construction would run.'No one knows its hidden meaning except God and who are firm in knowledge. They say". In his first comments he is hopeful of some peoples' getting some light from it as the final meaning is known to God alone. What I follow from you answer to my question is that you are denying even the smallest possibility of getting some light from the Mutshabihat or figurative part of the Holy Book. Let me quote some more verses from the Holy Book in which these two words muhkam and muthashabi have been used in Sura Hud verse 1 "Alif Lam Ra (This is ) Book, whose verses are made decisive, then are they made plain, from the Wise, All-Aware. and Sura Zumar23."Allah has (from time to time) The most beautiful Message In the form of  Book, Consistent with itself, Yet repeating (its teaching in various aspects).

Here Abdullah Yusuf Ali has given Mutashabih a 'slightly different shade of meaning' as suggested by context. But the same problem arises with it. Different commentators interpret these verses differently. Now when verses of the Holy Quran are open to so many varied interpretations by different commentators, you still dispute the Bohra's claim that ordinary person
can not understand the meaning of its verses unless one is 'firmly grounded in knowledge'. Mutshabihat verses were not revealed by Allah for Himself to have knowledge about them. If so, then what was the purpose of and  need for their revelation? He revealed them to Holy Prophet (PBUH) so that the Muslims could merely recite them. No that is not so. It can not be so. I believe that true knowledge and understanding ofthese verses was granted to the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and his family and progeny. Allah Almighty shown the special grace for the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and his holy  family. The holy family who he was told  by Allah to bring for the purpose of Mubahla against the Christians of Najran. Sura Ale Imran verse 61 " But whoever disputes with you in this matter after what come to you of knowledge, then say: come let us call our sons  and your sons, and our women and your women, and near people, then let us be  earnest in prayer, and pray for the curse of Allah on the liars". Come what may, your original position to refute Bohra's claim that ordinary man can not have understanding of the Holy Book is not proven through a convincing argument. May Allah almighty guide you and keep us on the path chosen by Him for Momineen.

fi ammanillah

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Answer:

 

Bohra cannot understand quran

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

 

Your Question: You must answer one question: What was the purpose of those verses (Mutshabihat) if all human beings except Allah Almighty can not understand them?

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verse 26:

Allah is not ashamed to cite the similitude of a gnat or of something even more insignificant than this (in His Glorious Quran). As for those who believe, they come to know from the same similitude that it is the Revelation from their Lord. But those who disbelieve say: “What does Allah mean by such similitudes?”. Allah leads astray many and guides many to the Right Way by the same thing; and He leads astray only those who are the ‘fasiqeen’ (disobedient, deniers, transgressors.)

 

Dear and beloved brother in Islam, the absolute majority of the Glorious Quran contain the ‘mohkamaat’ or clear verses which can be understood easily….but only as a test, the All-Knowing, All-Wise Lord has introduced some ‘Mutashabehaat’ verses in His Glorious Quran whose ‘taweel’ or true meaning is known to none except the Lord Himself.

 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 3 Surah Ale-Imraan verses 7-8:

7 He it is Who has sent down to thee the Book: in it are verses ‘muhkamaat’ ( basic or fundamental verses of established meaning); they are the foundation of the Book: others are ‘mutashabehaad’ (allegorical and ambiguous). But those in whose hearts is perversity follow the part thereof that is ‘mutashabehaad’, seeking discord and searching for its hidden meanings but no one knows its hidden meanings except Allah; and those who are firmly grounded in knowledge say: "We believe in the Book; the whole of it is from our Lord"; and none will grasp the Message except men of understanding.

8 "Our Lord!" (they say) "let not our hearts deviate now after Thou hast guided us, but grant us Mercy from Thy Own Presence; for Thou art the Grantor of bounties without measure.

 

The Lord All-Wise has provided a simple litmus test to determine and differentiate those who wish to unconditionally submit themselves to His every Guidance, and those whose intention is to seek and create ‘fitnah’ and discord amongst the Ummah.

 

If one wishes to recognize the people whose intention is to create ‘fitnah’ in the Ummah, then their absolutely single biggest sign is that these people will always base their beliefs and fantastic claims on the ‘mutashabehaat’ or allegorical verses of the Quran, constantly searching and explaining the ‘taweel’ or ‘true meanings’ of these allegorical verses….When one encounters such a people whose evidence for their false beliefs are based on the ‘mutashabehaat’ verses, know with absolute conviction that these are the people who have a perversity in their hearts….and because of their constant seeking of discord, the Lord has increased their perversity all the more!

 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verses 8-18:

8 Of the people there are some who say: "We believe in Allah and the Last Day" but they do not (really) believe.

9 Fain would they deceive Allah and those who believe, but they only deceive themselves and realize (it) not!

10 In their hearts is a disease; and Allah has increased their disease and grievous is the penalty they (incur) because they are false (to themselves).

11 When it is said to them: "Make not mischief on the earth" they say: "Why! We only want to make peace!"

12 Of a surety they are the ones who make mischief but they realize (it) not.

13 When it is said to them: "Believe as the others believe" they say: "Shall we believe as the fools believe?" nay of a surety they are the fools buy they do not know.

14 When they meet those who believe they say: "We believe" but when they are alone with their evil ones they say: "We are really with you, we (were) only jesting."

15 Allah will throw back their mockery on them and give them rope in their trespasses; so they will wander like blind ones (to and fro).

16 These are they who have bartered guidance for error: but their traffic is profitless and they have lost true direction.

17 Their similitude is that of a man who kindled a fire; when it lighted all around him Allah took away their light and left them in utter darkness so they could not see.

18 Deaf! Dumb! And blind (are they)! They will not return (to the Straight Path).

 

Those who are constantly seeking ‘fitnah’ and discord, and are always in the ‘taweel’ mode have a set of self-invented beliefs, and their constant efforts and energy is spent in trying to fix and assign a word or term of the Quran as a justification of their beliefs!

 

On the other hand the true believers completely align their beliefs to the guidance of the Holy Quran.

 

A few simple examples of how exactly those who are constantly in search of the ‘taweel’ try to assign the Quran to their self-invented beliefs:

 

Example-1: Surah 2 Baqarah verse 1: ‘Alif Laam Meem’

They claim that the ‘taweel’ of this verse is that ‘Alif’ is the first alphabet of the term ‘Allah’; ‘Meem’ is the first alphabet of the term ‘Mohamed’; and ‘Laam’ is the middle alphabet of the term ‘Ali’….thus they try to prove that Hadrat Ali (r.a.) is encompassed between none other than Allah and His Messenger (saws)!!!

 

Example-2: Surah 20 Taa-Haa verse 1: ‘Taa Haa’

They try to explain that the ‘taweel of this verse is that ‘Ta’ refers to Prophet Mohamed (saws), and ‘Haa’ refers to Hadrat Ali (r.a.)!

 

Example-3: Surah 36 Yaa Seen verse 1: ‘Yaa Seen’

They try to explain that the ‘taweel’ of this verse is that ‘Yaa Seen’ refers to Hadrat Ali (r.a.) and his descendants.

 

Example-4: Surah 37 Saafaat verse 130: "Peace and salutation to such as Il-Yaa Seen!"

They try to explain that the ‘taweel’ of this verse is that Allah sends his peace and salutations to ‘Ale-Yaa Seen’ or the descendants of the noble companion Hadrat Ali (r.a.). But if one simply reads the preceding verses of the same Surah from 123 onwards, one would easily understand that by ‘Il-Yaa Seen’ the Lord has mentioned of His Noble Prophet Ilyaas (a.s.) and not ‘Ale-Yaa Seen’!

 

Example-5: Surah 2 Baqarah verse 2: ‘Dhaalekal kitaab…..’ (That Book…..)

They try to explain that the reason the Lord said ‘that Book’ and not ‘this Book’ in His Glorious Quran, because in reality the Lord is talking about the supposedly ‘speaking Book’ which they claim is Hadrat Ali (r.a.)!!!

 

I can go on and on giving you examples of how these unscrupulous people who have their own agendas try to search and explain their fantastic understanding of the ‘taweel’ of each verse of the Quran. Such is the perversity in their hearts, that even the ‘muhkamaat’ verses of the Quran are transformed into ‘mutashabehaat’….and for them, the whole Quran is thus allegorical and ambigious….which gives rise to their other self-proclaimed belief…that the Glorious Quran can never be understood by its reader, and if one truly wishes to understand the real meaning or ‘taweel’ of the Quran, they must learn it from their appointed and chosen ‘holy men’ who are supposedly well versed in the knowledge of the ‘taweel’ of each and every verse of the Quran!!!

 

Your Question: Secondly, Let me cite the commentary on 7-8 verses of Ale-Imran  by Abdullah Yousuf  in which he says:" One reading, rejected by the majority of commentators but accepted by Mujahid and others would mark a break at the point here marked waqfa lazim but would run the
two sentences together. In that construction would run.'No one knows its hidden meaning except God and who are firm in knowledge. They say".
In his first comments he is hopeful of some peoples' getting some light from it as the final meaning is known to God alone. What I follow from you answer to my question is that you are denying even the smallest possibility of getting some light from the Mutshabihat or figurative part of the Holy Book.

 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 3 Surah Ale-Imraan verses 7-8:

7 He it is Who has sent down to thee the Book: in it are verses ‘muhkamaat’ ( basic or fundamental verses of established meaning); they are the foundation of the Book: others are ‘mutashabehaad’ (allegorical and ambiguous). But those in whose hearts is perversity follow the part thereof that is ‘mutashabehaad’, seeking discord and searching for its hidden meanings but no one knows its hidden meanings except Allah; and those who are firmly grounded in knowledge say: "We believe in the Book; the whole of it is from our Lord"; and none will grasp the Message except men of understanding.

8 "Our Lord!" (they say) "let not our hearts deviate now after Thou hast guided us, but grant us Mercy from Thy Own Presence; for Thou art the Grantor of bounties without measure.

 

Just for arguments sake, lets see how the words read and the meaning changes if the ‘waqfa’ in the sentence is not honored:

….but no one knows its hidden meanings (taweel) except Allah and those who are firmly grounded in knowledge. (They) say: "We believe in the Book; the whole of it is from our Lord"; and none will grasp the Message except men of understanding.

 

Immediately after the term ‘rasekhoona fil ilme’ is the term ‘ya-qooloona…’; and any person who has even a slight knowledge of the Arabic grammar will declare that the term ‘ya-qoloona….’ would mean ‘They say…’; and in the context of the discourse, it would be grammatically incorrect to start the sentence with ‘ya-qooloona….’ without specifying who exactly are the ‘they’!

 

If the ‘waqfa’ is not honored, and as is claimed that only Allah the ‘rasekhoona fil ilm’ both know the ‘taweel’ of the ‘mutashabehaat’ verses….then who should we suppose are the ‘they’ or people who say: “We believe in the Book; the whole of it is from our Lord" and the subsequent supplication in verse 8: "Our Lord!" (they say) "let not our hearts deviate now after Thou hast guided us….” ????

 

The only types of people that are mentioned in the above discourse are those who have a perversity in their hearts, and those who are ‘rase khoona fil ilm’ (people firmly grounded in knowledge). Thus if the ‘waqfa’ is not honored, then the question arises which one of the two groups say these words….“We believe in the Book; the whole of it is from our Lord" and "Our Lord!" (they say) "let not our hearts deviate now after Thou hast guided us….” ????

 

It obviously cannot be those who have a perversity in their hearts who would make this declaration and supplication….and if indeed the ones who make this declaration and supplication are the people firmly grounded in knowledge….then any person who has even a basic knowledge of Arabic grammar would have to say that t is absolutely imperative that the ‘waqfa’ is honored and thus the verse would read:

…..but no one knows its hidden meanings except Allah; and those who are firmly grounded in knowledge say: "We believe in the Book….”

 

Secondly brother, whenever the Arabic term ‘Illalaah’ (except Allah) is used in conjunction with Allah or any of His Noble Attributes…..it would be absolutely incorrect to insert any other person, or group, or thing in association with Allah Subhanah…for that would be a form of manifest shirk!

 

For example: When one says : ‘Laa illaha ‘illalaah’’ (there is no ‘ilaah’ except Allah), it would be blasphemous to add anything after ‘illalaah’….for that would be a form and manifestation of shirk.

 

Similarly, when the Lord Himself Declares in the verse ‘…..no one knows its ‘taaweel’ illalaah’; it would be absolutely inappropriate and unacceptable to remove the ‘waqfa’ and suppose that the verse reads…. ‘no ones knows its ‘taweel’ illalaah and the ‘rasekhoona fil ilme’’

 

Your Question: What I follow from you answer to my question is that you are denying even the smallest possibility of getting some light from the Mutshabihat or figurative part of the Holy Book.

Dear and beloved brother in Islam, when the Lord Most High has Himself made it clear that none knows the ‘taweel’ except Him…..it does not behove and befit one who sincerely fears Allah and the Last Day to associate someone with Allah Subhanah regarding His Knowledge of the ‘taweel’!

 

Your Question: Different commentators interpret these verses differently. Now when verses of the Holy Quran are open to so many varied interpretations by different commentators, you still dispute the Bohra's claim that ordinary person can not understand the meaning of its verses unless one is 'firmly grounded in knowledge'.

 

Beloved brother in Islam, now we arrive at the actual crux of the matter!!!!....that is the claim of some self-appointed ‘holy men’ of a sect whose claim of their superiority to the ordinary person is their absolute baseless claim that: ‘ordinary person can not understand the meaning of its verses unless one is 'firmly grounded in knowledge'.

Obviously these same unscrupulous and self-appointed ‘holy men’ claim that they are the ones who are ‘firmly grounded in knowledge’…thus they alone can understand the Quran!

 

That is their blasphemous claim! Now lets see what our Lord Creator and the Creator and Sustainer of the Worlds claims regarding His Glorious Book of Guidance:

 

Allah says in Chapter 2, Surah Baqarah aayat 185

Ramadan is the month in which the Quran was sent down: this Book is a Perfect Guidance for mankind and consists of clear Teachings which show the Right Way, and are a Criterion of the Truth and falsehood.

 

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 16 Surah Nahl verse 89:

We have sent down to you this Book, which makes everything plain, and is a guidance, blessing and good news to those who have surrendered themselves entirely.

 

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 19 Surah Maryam verse 97:

We have made this Quran easy, and sent it down in your tongue so that you should give good news to the pious and warn the stubborn people.

 

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 18 Surah Kahf verse 1-3:

All praise is for Allah Alone, Who has sent down this Book to His Servant (Mohamed (saws), and assigned nothing crooked to it. This Book says everything directly, so that he may warn the people of the severe chastisement of Allah and give good news to the believers, who do righteous deeds, that they will have an excellent reward.

 

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verse 99:

We have sent down to you Revelations that clearly expound the Truth, and none but the disobedient reject them.

 

Dear and beloved brother in Islam, now you decide who has a bigger right that their claim be accepted as the Truth: some self-proclaimed ‘holy men’ or Allah Subhanah, the Lord of the Worlds????? Those supposedly ‘holy men’ who say that the Quran cannot be understood by any except themselves….or the Lord Most High Who Declares that:

1. The Quran is a perfect Guidance for mankind
2. The Quran consists of clear teachings which show the Right Way
3. The Quran is a Criterion between the Truth and the falsehood
4. The Quran is a Book which makes everything plain
5. The Quran is easy
6. The Quran says everything directly
7. The Quran clearly expounds the Truth

 

Your Statement: Come what may, your original position to refute Bohra's claim that ordinary man can not have understanding of the Holy Book is not proven through

Dear and Beloved Brother in Islam, the Glorious Quran is a Book of Guidance, a Syllabus, and a Manual revealed by our Merciful Creator for the guidance of mankind. We cannot be guided aright without it! Thus it becomes our responsibility to understand this Message from our Creator, whom we have accepted as our Lord and Master, so that we may fulfill our duties and responsibilities according to His Commands and Teachings.

 

For one who does not speak Arabic as his first language, he is left with four choices:

1.      Leave the guidance of the Quran, and make our own laws, or follow our own whims and conjecture.

2.      To recite the Quran in Arabic, without understanding a word of it.

3.      To learn the Arabic language, so that we can understand the Message of our Creator.

4.      To read the available translations, and get an understanding of the Message.

 

Choice 1: Leave the guidance of the Quran, and make our own laws or follow our own whims and conjecture.

This is precisely what has happened to the Ummah of Islam. Because they do not speak or understand Arabic, they have left the Quran high on their book-shelves, and started making their own laws and follow the current wave of un-Godly regulations. And without the guidance of the Holy Quran, this person just roams in deep darkness, rather than follow the light and guidance of the Quran.

 

Choice 2: To recite the Quran in Arabic, without understanding a word of it.

This person believes in the Quran as the Book of Allah, and recites it day and night in Arabic. He will, Insha Allah, get his reward from Allah, but obviously, he will not receive any guidance to lead his life in this world. These kind of people then follow blindly anyone who wears the Islamic garb and claims to be a scholar or a holy man, believing that that person is guiding from the Quran. But he does not have the means to double check and satisfy himself, that indeed this scholar is guiding from the Quran or not. If the scholar or holy man is indeed a true believer and fears Allah, then this person will receive some guidance. But, Allah forbid, if the scholar or holy man is one who is more interested in this worldly life rather than the hereafter, he will be mis-guided in Islam, and will have no excuse in the Court of Allah. And Allah is our witness, there are enough of these unscrupulous holy men around today, who take advantage of these poor souls.

These unscrupulous self-proclaimed holy men, then create an environment, whereby they look and act very religious, but their actions and teachings are far away from the true guidance of the Quran. But because, the poor follower does not understand a word from the Quran, he blindly follows them, thinking this is his road to salvation. The first advice and commandment of these holy men is to proclaim, that if they want to understand Islam, they must follow their created sect alone. They must not try to understand the Quran on their own or from any other source, as they will, then, be mis-guided. They make fancy promises of intercession to their followers on the Day of Judgment in the Court of Allah! Once they are successful in doing that, they invariably take you towards the invocation, and sometimes worship of themselves and their dead ancestors in the graves. They create fancy and miraculous stories regarding their ancestors and relate them again and again in their sermons, and in time, rather than giving sermons from the Quran, their sermons are nothing but stories and miracles of their own self-made leaders! They then invent and create several rites, rituals and customs in the name of Islam, so that the follower is deeply engrossed, and feels he is living an Islamic life through these rituals; whereas most of these rituals have absolutely no basis from the Quran or Sunnah.

 

Allah has promised in the Quran to throw both, the unscrupulous holy men, who invent these sects, and their followers, into the fire of Hell!

 

Choice 3: To learn the Arabic language, so that we can understand the Message of our Creator.

Yes, this would absolutely be the best option, but how many of us have the conviction to take this step. May Allah bless those people who took this step, and May Allah increase them in their knowledge of the Truth.

 

Choice 4: To read the available translations, and get an understanding of the Message.

Many scholars, who Allah blessed to learn Arabic and another language/s fluently, and blessed them to understand the Quran, have taken the effort to document a translation of the Holy Quran for the people who do not understand Arabic. The translation of any literature from one language to another might loose its fluency and its rhythm, but the meaning remains the same.

One would receive guidance only if one leaves all his inborn beliefs and prejudice behind him, and assigns and aligns himself completely with the Guidance of the Glorious Quran.

But if one were to try to hang on to his past beliefs, and change and alter and manipulate the verses of the Quran in their feeble effort to justify their false beliefs….obviously such a person would receive no guidance from this Glorious Book of Guidance!

If one trusts, obeys, and follows the guidance and commands of Allah and His Messenger (saws), one can be assured of never ever being misled; but if one believes, obeys and follows any other guidance, other than that of Allah and His

Messenger (saws), one can be assured of being led astray.

 

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

 

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

 

 

Burhan