Chapter 5: Current mis-interpretation of al-Qur’an. 

3. Not interpreting al-Qur’an with as-Sunnah.

Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala not only revealed al-Qur’an but also accompanied with it a messenger to help clarify it. Allah says:

And We have also sent down unto you (O Muhammad) the Dhikr (Al-Quran)

that you may explain clearly to men what is sent down to them, and that they may give thought.

[an-Nahl 16:44]

The verse above distinguishes that Rasulullah Shallallahu ‘alaihi Wasallam has an important role to explain al-Qur’an. This role includes:  

1. Explain the meaning of a verse directly. For example in hadeeth saying: “This verse means……”

2. Explain the meaning of a verse indirectly.  For example in explaining the verse: “And perform prayers”, Rasulullah explained verbally the recitations in prayers. He also taught us how to perform prayers. In addition his explanation also came in the form of approval; when he sees a companion performing prayers and he did not rectify anything, it means that he approves the way the companion performed prayers. If he rectified then it means that there were some corrections that need to be taken into account. Most of the explanations by Rasulullah Shallallahu ‘alaihi Wasallam are made indirectly either through verbal teaching, actions or approval.

3. Derive new laws not mentioned in al-Qur’an. This is based on the authority that Allah has bestow Rasulullah with: And whatsoever the Messenger (Muhammad s.a.w) gives you, take it; and whatsoever he forbids you,        abstain (from it). [al-Hasyr 59:07]

4. Keep silent for things that need explanation. This could be divided into two categories:

• If it involves the unseen, aqidah and ibadah (worshipping obligations) matter, then Rasulullah’s silence means there is no need for further explanation. For example Rasulullah never explained what is in between the seven heavens (unseen), how is Allah’s characteristics (aqidah) and is there any sixth prayers in a day (ibadah). His silence here means we are not required to further probe into the matter. Whatever explanation has been given is sufficient.

• If it involved matters of this world, then his silence means the matter is left at our discretion as long as we observe the halal and haram set by al-Qur’an and authentic as-Sunnah.[1]

Amongst those who frequently mis-interpret al-Qur’an today is the Anti - Hadeeth Group. They argue that al-Qur’an is sufficient and abandon the hadeeth of the Prophet in understanding al-Qur’an. Therefore, when they come across the command “And perform prayers”, they would interpret prayers according to their logic. There are at least two major flaws in this philosophy:

1. If prayer is something that could be performed just based on logic, then there is no need for Allah to reveal al-Qur’an to command it. Prayers have been a known ritual in every religion since long ago. 

2. Deserting hadeeth of Rasulullah Shallallahu ‘alaihi Wasallam means we are deserting al-Qur’an because Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala in al-Qur’an has repeatedly commanded us to obey Rasulullah Shallallahu ‘alaihi Wasallam. After the prophet passed away, we could only obey him through obeying his hadeeth.[2]

Rasulullah Shallallahu ‘alaihi Wasallam’s explanation of al-Qur’an consists of two main components; understanding and implementation. This could be further divided into two categories:

First Category: Constant understanding, constant implementation.

This category refers to explanation by Rasulullah Shallallahu ‘alaihi Wasallam in matters that are non-optional to human being:

• Aqidah issues like who is the creator (Tawheed al-Rububiyah), who is worthy of worship (Tawheed al-Uluhiyah) and names and characteristics of Allah (Tawheed al-Asma’ wa al-Sifat).

• News of the unseen world like the angels, punishment in the grave, resurrection day, hell and heaven.

• Specific ibadah (worshipping obligations) like ablution, prayers, fasting, umrah and hajj.

All the matters above would have a constant understanding and implementation from the time of the prophet until the end of day without any changes.

Second Category: Constant understanding, modified implementation.

This category refers to explanation by Rasulullah Shallallahu ‘alaihi Wasallam in matters that involve our daily lives and relationship between human being like administration of a country or war strategies. In this category, we would have a constant understanding of a verse but with a modified implementation to suit the changes in time and place. For example in understanding the following verse:  

And make ready against them all you can of power, including steeds of war to threaten the enemy of Allah

and your enemy, and others besides whom, you may not know but whom Allah does know.

And whatever you shall spend in the Cause of Allah shall be repaid unto you,

and you shall not be treated unjustly.

[al-Anfal 8:60]

The meaning of “power” in the verse has been explained by Rasulullah Shallallahu ‘alaihi Wasallam as archery:

Prepare to meet them with as much strength as you can afford.

Beware, strength consists in archery. Beware, strength consists in archery.

Beware, strength consists in archery.[3]

Along with changes in time and civilisation, “power” in wars now rests in jets, missile and tanks. Thus the understanding towards the verse is constant (power = strength during war) but the implementation would be modified to incorporate the current changes.

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CHAPTER 5 : CONTENTS

Hafiz Firdaus Abdullah