A Consideration of the Harmony between all
the Verses of the Qur’an
A Consideration of the Harmony between all the Verses of the Qur`an[17]
What
has been mentioned so far makes up the primary foundation of Qur`anic exegesis.
However, one of the important conditions for the correctness of tafsir and its
strength is that the commentator must not consider each verse of a particular
surah as being separate from the other verses of the same surah as well as the
verses of all other chapters of the Qur`an. The commentator must realize that
all the verses have either a single goal behind them, or multiple goals, all of
which can be summarized in one extensive goal.
The
greatest stumbling block in the commentary of the Qur`an lies in this stage
meaning that a person, due to his mere knowledge of the rules of Arabic
grammar, goes forth to offer a commentary of a verse of the Qur`an, neglecting
other similar verses revealed about the same issue. It was this very blunder in
exegesis that resulted in the formation of different Islamic sects and
ideologies, and every creed and founder of a new sect, in order to establish
his ideology, brought proof and testimony from the Qur`an!
Who
does not know that all of the different schools of Islamic thought, whether the
Mujabbirah[18], the Muftazilah[19],
the Mushabbihah[20], the
Mujassimah[21], the
Murjifah[22], or the
other proponents of ideologies and sects based their theoretical beliefs upon
various verses of the Qur`an and considered themselves to be among the
followers of the Qur`an! This is while, save for one, all other creeds are
false and are distanced from the guidance of the Qur`an.
When
we search for the root cause of the emergence of these sects, we observe that
the reason, or at least one of the reasons for them coming about is that each sect
attached itself to a specific verse and was negligent of the other verses that
spoke of the same subject which could have served as an exposition to first the
verse.
There
is no doubt that the Qur`an contains numerous verses, which if taken and studied
on their own, may make one reach various (incorrect) conclusions such as that
of the beliefs of: predestination, free-will, likening Allah (awj) to His
creations, tanzih[23],
belief in Allah (awj) having a body, etc. However, one can never state that all of these contrary and opposite beliefs and ideologies
stem directly from the Divine Revelation (wahi) and that all of these make up
the actual goals and objectives which the Qur`an has put forward, since the Qur`an clearly states that:
{
وَلَوْ كَانَ
مِنْ عِنْدِ
غَيْرِ
اللٌّهِ لَوَجَدُوا
فِيهِ
اخْـتِلاَفاً
كَثِيراً }
“And
had this (Qur`an) come from any other than Allah then surely you would have
found numerous discrepancies within it.”[24]
This confusion can also be
cleared up if we do not forget the unity and harmony which exists amongst the
verses of the Qur`an.
In addition, we must keep in mind
that the Qur`an has been described as possessing the following two
characteristics:
a. Verses which are similar to
one another;
b. Often repeated – from the
point of view of their content (not necessarily repeated verbatim).
This is clearly seen in a verse
of the Qur`an in which it is stated:
{
أَللٌّهُ
نَزَّلَ
أَحْسَنَ
الْحَدِيثِ
كِتَاباً
مُّـتَشَابِهاً
مَّـثَانِيَ }
“Allah has revealed the best of discourses in the
form of a Book, consistent with itself, (yet) repeating (its teachings in
various aspects).”[25]
Naturally,
one thing may resemble something else and whereas it is possible that they may
differ in some regards and aspects, however without doubt they would also have
points of conformity and commonality amongst them and it is for this reason
that they are referred to as being similar to one another. Therefore, in
explaining one verse of the Qur`an, one must refer to all of the other verses
which have been revealed in the same regard. At this point, from the collection
of all the verses, a final opinion would be concluded, and this is how one
should carry on the entire process of commentary of the Qur`an.
It
is at this point that the necessity to search for another form of commentary of
the Qur`an which is known as the ‘thematic exegesis’ of the Qur`an becomes
obvious. The methodology used in such a commentary of the Qur`an is that all of
the verses on a particular theme are – as much as is humanly possible –
gathered together, and then at that point, one keeps in mind the context of
each verse and compares one verse to another. From this overall review, one
outcome is extracted.
The
other form of exegesis of the Qur`an, meaning the explanation of the verses of
the Qur`an in sequential order – chapter by chapter – is no doubt beneficial
and very valuable, even for a select group of people and there is no other
method of commentary of the Qur`an which would be as fruitful. Unfortunately
however, the only way to remove the curtains which may cloud over the true
goals and aims of the verses of the Qur`an is through
the thematic exegesis of the Qur`an, as this is the true soul and essence of
seeing the harmony in verses of the Qur`an. In addition, this is the same path
which has been taken by the author of this (present) work in compiling, Manshur-e-Jawid-e-Qur`an
- “The Everlasting Charter of the Qur`an”[26]
and the work, Mafahimul Qur`an - “The Understandings of the Qur`an”[27].
Of course it goes without saying that these works of ours are not free from
flaws and defects, and those who shall come in the future will complete and
perfect this form of exegesis of the Qur`an, God willing.