Post by AbuHumayd on Jan 8, 2016 15:48:05 GMT
Translator's preface
The following is a translation of the Introduction to Tafsīr by Shaykh Ibn Taymiyyah in his Majmū 'l-Fatāwā[1]. He briefly mentions the stages of how tafsīr of the Qur'ān should be done, with the first way being; Tafsīr 'l-Qur'ān bi 'l-Qur'ān (explaining the Qur'ān by using the Qur'ān itself).
The answer is: 'If there are correct ways regarding this (tafsīr) then it will be to do tafsīr of the Qur'ān with the Qur'ān, for what is summarised in one place (āyah) is explained in another place (āyah). Whatever has been mentioned only briefly in one place has been further elaborated in detail in another. If you are unable to do so then you should go to the Sunnah for it is a commentary of the Qur'ān and a clarifier for it.
Rather, Imām al-Shāfi‘ī said: 'All of that which Rasūlullāh ﷺ judged with is from that which he had understood from the Qur'ān', Allāh ﷻ said: 'Lo! We reveal unto thee the Scripture with the truth, that thou mayst judge between mankind by that which Allah showeth thee. And be not thou a pleader for the treacherous.' And: '...and We have revealed unto thee the Remembrance that thou mayst explain to mankind that which hath been revealed for them, and that haply they may reflect.' And: '...and We have revealed the Scripture unto thee only that thou mayst explain unto them that wherein they differ, and (as) a guidance and a mercy for a people who believe.'[2] So for this reason Rasūlullāh ﷺ said: 'Verily I have been given the Qur'ān and something similar with it.'
So too the Sunnah was revealed unto him ﷺ through wahī just as the Qur'ān except that it (the Sunnah) is not recited like the Qur'ān is recited. Imām al-Shāfi‘ī and many others from the Imāms have deduced from that with many proofs. (However), this is not the place to elaborate on that.
The aim is that you should search for the tafsīr of the Qur'ān with the Qur'ān (itself) and if you do not find it (in there) then from the Sunnah (of Rasūlullāh ﷺ) as Rasūlullāh ﷺ said to Mu‘ādh when he sent him to yemen; 'How will you judge (between the people)'? He replied: 'With the Book of Allāh ﷻ'. He (Rasūlullāh ﷺ) then said: 'If you do not find it there? He (Mu‘ādh) replied: 'Then with Sunnah of Rasūlullāh ﷺ'. He (Rasūlullāh ﷺ) then said: 'Then if you do not find it there (also)'? He (Mu‘ādh) replied: 'I will exercise my opinion'. Rasūlullāh then firmly tapped his (Mu‘ādh) chest and said: 'Praise be to Allāh ﷻ who success to the Messenger of Rasūlullāh ﷺ in making Rasūlullāh ﷺ pleased.'
This ḥadīth is related in the Masānīds and the Sunans with a good chain.
[1] Majmū‘ Fatāwā li-ibn Taymiyyah (13/364-365)
[2] The English meanings of the verses of the Qur'ān were taken from the translation of Muhammad Marmaduke Pikthall (d. 1936).
The following is a translation of the Introduction to Tafsīr by Shaykh Ibn Taymiyyah in his Majmū 'l-Fatāwā[1]. He briefly mentions the stages of how tafsīr of the Qur'ān should be done, with the first way being; Tafsīr 'l-Qur'ān bi 'l-Qur'ān (explaining the Qur'ān by using the Qur'ān itself).
ما أحسن طرق التفسير ؟
What are the best ways to do Tafsīr (of the Qur'ān)?
Answered by Shaykh Taqī 'l-Dīn Aḥmad Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله [d. 728 h]
The answer is: 'If there are correct ways regarding this (tafsīr) then it will be to do tafsīr of the Qur'ān with the Qur'ān, for what is summarised in one place (āyah) is explained in another place (āyah). Whatever has been mentioned only briefly in one place has been further elaborated in detail in another. If you are unable to do so then you should go to the Sunnah for it is a commentary of the Qur'ān and a clarifier for it.
Rather, Imām al-Shāfi‘ī said: 'All of that which Rasūlullāh ﷺ judged with is from that which he had understood from the Qur'ān', Allāh ﷻ said: 'Lo! We reveal unto thee the Scripture with the truth, that thou mayst judge between mankind by that which Allah showeth thee. And be not thou a pleader for the treacherous.' And: '...and We have revealed unto thee the Remembrance that thou mayst explain to mankind that which hath been revealed for them, and that haply they may reflect.' And: '...and We have revealed the Scripture unto thee only that thou mayst explain unto them that wherein they differ, and (as) a guidance and a mercy for a people who believe.'[2] So for this reason Rasūlullāh ﷺ said: 'Verily I have been given the Qur'ān and something similar with it.'
So too the Sunnah was revealed unto him ﷺ through wahī just as the Qur'ān except that it (the Sunnah) is not recited like the Qur'ān is recited. Imām al-Shāfi‘ī and many others from the Imāms have deduced from that with many proofs. (However), this is not the place to elaborate on that.
The aim is that you should search for the tafsīr of the Qur'ān with the Qur'ān (itself) and if you do not find it (in there) then from the Sunnah (of Rasūlullāh ﷺ) as Rasūlullāh ﷺ said to Mu‘ādh when he sent him to yemen; 'How will you judge (between the people)'? He replied: 'With the Book of Allāh ﷻ'. He (Rasūlullāh ﷺ) then said: 'If you do not find it there? He (Mu‘ādh) replied: 'Then with Sunnah of Rasūlullāh ﷺ'. He (Rasūlullāh ﷺ) then said: 'Then if you do not find it there (also)'? He (Mu‘ādh) replied: 'I will exercise my opinion'. Rasūlullāh then firmly tapped his (Mu‘ādh) chest and said: 'Praise be to Allāh ﷻ who success to the Messenger of Rasūlullāh ﷺ in making Rasūlullāh ﷺ pleased.'
This ḥadīth is related in the Masānīds and the Sunans with a good chain.
[1] Majmū‘ Fatāwā li-ibn Taymiyyah (13/364-365)
[2] The English meanings of the verses of the Qur'ān were taken from the translation of Muhammad Marmaduke Pikthall (d. 1936).
