“And they do not come to you with an argument except that We bring you the truth and the best explanation (Tafsir).” (Qur’an 25:33)
﷽
The word Tafsīr in short means explanation.
The first principle that Ibadis use when explaining the Qur’an is the Qur’an itself. This is also known as: Tafsīr al-Quran bi-l-Quran. (Interpreting the Qur’an by the Qur’an).
Which brings us to the the second principle.
“Indeed, We have made it (ja’alnahu) an Arabic Qur’an that you might understand.” (Qur’an 43:3)
Allah (swt) mentions that he has created the Qur’an in Arabic. This entails immediately going outside of the Qur’an as the Qur’an does not have a self contained expository or dictionary of words and meanings. As the immediate audience was the Prophet Muhammed (saw) and the people of his time it becomes prudent for us to understand how they understood certain Arabic words.
This brings us to the Qur’anic principle for interpretation.
“He it is Who has sent down the Book upon thee; therein are signs determined; they are the Mother of the Book, and others symbolic. As for those whose hearts are given to swerving, they follow that of it which is symbolic, seeking temptation and seeking its interpretation. And none know its interpretation save God and those firmly rooted in knowledge. They say, “We believe in it; all is from our Lord.” And none remember, save those who possess intellect.” (Qur’an 3:7) The Study Qur’an.
All matters of theology are to be built upon the text of the Qur’an that has a clear meaning. Any time that you encounter an anomalous understanding and one is building a foundation upon the symbolic one has to really take care.
This brings us to the third principle. Asbab al-nuzul (أسباب النزول) This means the reason for the revelation. The Qur’an was revealed in real time to address the needs of the immediate community. This would also help in deriving principles of law and legal code.
This brings us to the fourth principle. Looking at the Sunnah of the Blessed Messenger (saw) to see how he explained those points which needs a practical demonstration.
And obey Allah and obey the Messenger. But if you turn away, then Our Messenger is responsible only for conveying the message (l-balaghu) clearly(l-mubina). (Quran 64:12)
“But if you they turn away [Prophet], remember that your only conveying this message clearly.” (Qur’an 16:82)
Also we should mention a point about the Isra’iliyyat (اسرائیلیات) material. efers to narratives and stories originating from Jewish, Christian, and other ancient sources that found their way into early Islamic literature, particularly in Quranic exegesis (tafsir), historical compilations, and stories of the prophets.
This one must also really take care.
This comes under three categories.
- What is Known to be True: These are narratives that are confirmed by the Quran or authentic Sunnah. For example, stories about Pharaoh’s tyranny are affirmed in both the Quran and the Torah.
- What is Known to be False: These are narratives that directly contradict Islamic teachings. For instance, any story attributing a major sin to a prophet would be rejected, as the doctrine of prophetic infallibility (‘Ismah) is firmly established in Islam.
- What is Ambiguous (Maskut ‘Anhu): This is the largest category, comprising stories that are neither confirmed nor denied by Islamic sources. The prophetic guidance regarding such reports is to neither believe them nor declare them false. A Muslim would simply say, “We believe in Allah and what is revealed to us”
Narrated Abu Huraira:
The people of the Book used to read the Torah in Hebrew and then explain it in Arabic to the Muslims. Allah’s Messenger (saw) said (to the Muslims). “Do not believe the people of the Book, nor disbelieve them, but say, ‘We believe in Allah and whatever is revealed to us, and whatever is revealed to you.’ “
Source: (https://sunnah.com/bukhari:7362)
The difference between Tafakkur (تفكر) and Tadabbur (تدبر)
Tadabbur is to reflect deeply over the verses of the Qur’an.
“Do they not consider (yatadabbarūna)the Qur’an (with care)? Had it been from other Than Allah, they would surely have found therein Much discrepancy.” (Qur’an 4:82)
“Then do they not reflect (yatadabbarūna) upon the Qur’an, or are there locks upon [their] hearts?” (Qur’an 47:24)
Tafakkur is to reflect deeply over the creation of the universe.
“(We sent them) with Clear Signs and Books of dark prophecies; and We have sent down unto thee (also) the Message; that thou mayest explain clearly to men what is sent for them, and that they may give (yatafakkarūna) thought.” (Qur’an 16:44)
In essence, tafakkur directs one’s reflection outward to the cosmos to find evidence of Allah, while tadabbur directs it inward to the revealed text to understand His guidance.
For those who have no access to Arabic. It has to be understood that Arabic is the language of scholarship. Without knowledge of the Arabic language one is cut off from a vast ocean of knowledge in regards to all fields of Islamic disciplines.
That being said there are two things that one who has no access to the Arabic language that one can rely upon to try and understand the Qur’an.
The first is the Islam Awakened website. https://www.islamawakened.com/quran/1/1/ This offers all translations that are out there in English. It is well done because they include all possible translations. Even if they are from psuedo Islamic sects. We would advise you to compare/constrast the translations. Find out who the translators are and what leanings they may have.
The other who would be Qur’anic Arabic corpus. https://corpus.quran.com/wordbyword.jsp. Here you can take a partiuclar word that has been transliterated and see how this word appears in other places of the Qur’an.
IBADI TAFSIR LITERATURE AND IBADI TAFSIR OF THE QUR’AN
WHO UNDERSTANDS THE QUR’AN AN ANALYSIS OF QUR’AN 3:7
ALLAH FORGIVES ALL SINS EXCEPT SHIRK?
CORRECT UNDERSTANDING OF QUR’AN 4:31
IBADI TAFSIRS IN REGARD TO PROPHET DAVID (QUR’AN 38:20-26)
THE PROPER UNDERSTANDING OF (MA BAYNA YADAYHI IN THE QUR’AN
THE QUR’AN IS SUBLIME. UNDERSTANDING SURAH AL KAHF. (QUR’AN 18:79-81)
IS THE VOICE OF THE WOMAN AWRAH?
NASTY WOMEN FOR NASTY MEN? UNDERSTANDING QUR’AN 24:26
HOW TO UNDERSTAND QUR’AN 4:159
WILL JESUS BE A SIGN FOR THE HOUR?
A TEXT THAT HAS BEEN GROSSLY MISUNDERSTOOD.
HOW THE IBADI UNDERSTAND THE VERSES ABOUT GOG AND MAGOG (JUJ WA MAJUJ)
THE VERSES QUR’AN 5:117 and QUR’AN 3:55 ABOUT THE DEATH OF JESUS.
WAS ADAM IN PARADISE BEFORE COMING TO EARTH?
May Allah Forgive the Ummah.
May Allah Guide the Ummah.
Prima Quran 