MUHKAM AND MUTASHABEH AYATS OF THE GLORIOUS QUR'AN

 

There are two types of Ayats in The Glorious Qur’an: Muhkam and Mutashabah. Muhkam (Decisive) ayats are the foundation of the Book, Mutashabah (Metaphorical) ayats are those which have multiple meanings. The Arabic language has words with multiple meanings. The true meanings of Mutashabah ayats are known only to Allah and the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) and his Pure Progeny. Interpretation of the Noble Qur’an is important and anyone with superficial knowledge of Arabic cannot perform this.

Examples are: The Beneficent (Allah) sits on the Arsh (Throne): (20:5) It denotes the Divine Authority, “And your Lord comes and also angels in rank.” (42:11),

 “The hand of Allah is over their hands.” (48:10) Noble Messenger was completely representing Allah hence Muslim’s commitment with him was their commitment to Allah. “Looking at their Lord” (75:23)” And those who patiently persevere, seeking the countenance (face)of their Lord.” Means the Glorious Essence of Allah (13:22) “Yet lasting is the Face of your Lord.” (55:27) Only Person of your Lord with Majesty and Splendor will endure.

Our scholars have approached the interpretation Qur’anic Ayats by comparing Ayats within the Noble Qur’an.

There are reasons for inserting Mutashabeh Ayats. One reason is to encourage people to enhance their thinking power. Another reason is to check who are the mischief makers as they want to circumvent the meanings to their advantage. Yet other reasons are to enhance Allah’s generosity and magnanimity and other attributes of Allah.

During the period of Imam Hasan al-Askari (a.s.), there was a Christian Philosopher named Ishaque al-Kindi. He compiled a book collecting Ayat of the Noble Qur’an which he thought were contradicting and named it “Self-Contradictions” and he planned to print it. In his faulty approach he thought that the Glorious Qur’an was written by the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) himself. When this was brought to Imam Hasan al-Askari (a.s.)’ attention, he tried to persuade his students to go to Ishaq al-Kindi and tell him that in Arabic words, have multiple meanings, what he thought was the only one meaning and erroneously concluded to be contradictory. Ishaq al-Kindi was a fair-minded person, and he realized his mistake. He asked his students as to who pointed this out to them. First, they tried claim the ownership, but he said that he was fully aware of their mental capacities, then they told the truth. He said, “this level of knowledge is the heritage of only the Prophets Family”. He directed his students to set on fire that manuscript he had compiled and was ready to be printed.

 

Sources: The Glorious Qur’an Translation by Ayatullah Muhammad Hussain Tabatabai

AlulBayt in South Africa (afosa.com), ezsoftech.com

                                           

                              (25/23)                                                               TAHAWWUR ALI MIRZA

IMAM ALI (A.S.) TEACHES 400 GOLDEN RULES FOR THE WORLD AND HEAREAFTER I

 

Imam Ali (a.s.) said the following about salat:

One should not offer salat in a state of laziness and tiredness.

Blessed is the Prophet (s.a.w.a.s) and his Pure Progeny (a.s.), Allah will accept your prayers when you mention them respectfully.

Depend upon Allah after you perform two rakats of morning salat. The duas are accepted during that salat.

Do not go to the Holy Haram with your swords.

Prostrate for extended duration in Allah’s obedience to achieve salvation.

Salat is the most favorite deed to Allah. The worldly pleasures should not distract you from performing salat at their proper time. Allah has rebuked those who disregarded their times of prayers. “Woes to the prayer ones” (107:4) Who are ignorant of their prayers.” (107:5)

While praying, notable turnings invalidate the salat.

Tucking up the clothes is purity for offering prayers. Cleanse your clothes (74:4)

Teach your children how to pray. When they are eight years, you should discipline them if they are negligent of Salat. Saho doubts are forbidden in the Witr Salat, in the first two rakas of every obligatory, in Fajr and Maghrib salat, and every obligatory two rakats prayers as offered in travel.

It is unacceptable for men to prostrate on pictures or pictured rugs. It is allowed if the pictures are covered. It is unacceptable for men to prostrate on a bag of wheat or other eatables.

Allah will forgive those who offer prayers with full recognition of their worth.

Avoid offering a recommendable prayer in the time of an obligatory one.

The Persistent in their salat are those who complete their salat of the day by nighttime and complete their salat they missed at night the next day. (70:23)

A single prayer at the two place Al-Harmein is equal to one thousand prayers at other places.

When you finish your prayer then raise your hands for supplications. Every time you pray salat, treat every salat as your last salat.

The prayers of those who consume intoxicants will not be accepted by Allah for forty nights.

You should concentrate towards Allah while praying salat. In salat, justify the Surah, and Ruku’ and Sujood.

Extracts from an article in Al-islam.org by Muhabali.