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
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