Quran Midterm Notes

Muḥkam

a word whose meaning is known and understood, and its exposition is clear and explicit.

(opposite to Mutashābih)

Mutashābih

a word whose meaning is ambiguous, unclear.

Example:all the ḥurūf muqaṭṭaʿāt الٓر الٓمٓصٓ الٓمٓ كٓهيعٓصٓ طه etc.

(opposite to Muḥkam)

Haqīqī

Using a word in its true, literal sense

is the primary use of the word.

Example:to apply the word 'offspring' to one's children

(Opposite to Majāzī)

Majāzī

Using a word metaphorically.

-is not the primary use of the word.

Example:- to apply the word "offspring" to include grandchildren - And lower to them the wing of humility out of mercy and say, "My Lord, have mercy upon them as they brought me up [when I was] small."(Sūrat al-Isrā 17:24)

(Opposite to Haqīqī)

'Ām

a word that is general, inclusively applying to all members of a specific set, no matter how small or large that set is

Example: Every soul will taste death.... (Sūrat āl ʿIm'rān 3:185)

(Opposite to Khāṣ)

Khāṣ

a word used to denote an exclusively specified, limited number of things.

specifies it, hence excluding it from the ʿām.

Example: But Allah has permitted trade and has forbidden interest. (Surah Baqarah 2:275)

(Opposite to 'Ām)

Muṭlaq

a word/statement that is unrestricted; it is unconditional, and unqualified by a descriptor.

Example:And those who pronounce ẓihār upon their wives and then [wish to] renege on what they said - then [there must be] freeing of a slave before they touch one another. That is what you are admonished thereby; Allah is Acquainted with what you do. (Sūrat al-Mujādilah 58:3)

(Opposite to Muqayyad)

Muqayyad

a word/statement that is restricted; qualified by a descriptor.

Example:Whoever kills a believer by mistake, then [there should be] freeing of a believing slave... (Sūrat al-Nisā 4:92)

(Opposite to Muṭlaq)

Mantuq

-explicitly mentioned in the verse

-opposite to Mafhum

Mafhum

-not explicitly mentioned, but implicity understood

-opposite to Mantuq

2 types!

---1.) Mafhum al Muwafaqa: extension of a ruling from an explicitly mentioned case to an implicitly understood one (ex. dont say uff to parents --> extends to all other activities /words of disrespect)

---2.) Mafhum Mukhalafa: an implicit understanding that is opposite of an explicitly mentioned one due to a condition found in the mentioned case. If the condition is absent, then it implies the opposite (ex. Nisa:25 "whoever among you does not have the means to marry free, believing woman....then posses of believing slave girls"

**conditions - "if" is explicit --> implies --> if you DO have the means, slave girls are impermissible, must marry a free woman) --not always accurate

1.) Mafhum al Muwafaqa

extension of a ruling from an explicitly mentioned case to an implicitly understood one (ex. dont say uff to parents --> extends to all other activities /words of disrespect)

2.) Mafhum Mukhalafa

an implicit understanding that is opposite of an explicitly mentioned one due to a condition found in the mentioned case. If the condition is absent, then it implies the opposite (ex. Nisa:25 "whoever among you does not have the means to marry free, believing woman....then posses of believing slave girls"

**conditions - "if" is explicit --> implies --> if you DO have the means, slave girls are impermissible, must marry a free woman) --not always accurate

Mu'jizah

Inimatable/incapacitating miracle

علم المعاني (ilm ul ma'ani)

lingustic pragmatics/semantics (order)

-speech in accordance

-(Nahw)

علم البيان

imagery and figurative language

-figures of speech

-big in Quran and Fiqh

علم البديع

rhetorical embellishment

-beauty, balance, symmetry

-rhyme and repition

-to add more beauty

نظم

Inimitable Nature of Arrangement

Scientific Facts in the Quran

The embryo, during development, is surrounded by 3 layers

1.) anterior abdominal wall of the mother

2.) uterine wall

3.) Placental membrane

-Surah Zummar

Asbab al-Nuzul

Occasions of revelation (reasons/causes)

-knowing the relationship between the revelation and the events that occured during the 23 year period of revelation

اماكن النزول

Locations/places of revelations

احول النزول

conditions of revelation

What Abdullah ibn Masood said about Asbab al Nazul

1.) I have complete knowledge about the Asbab al-Nuzul - who its about, the context/cause, when and where and for who it was revealed, time of day and year of revelation

2.) Most knowledgeable about the Quran

3.) If you know someone who know smore or something I don't know, let me know so I can travel there

What Ali RA said about Asbab al Nuzul

I know when and where (time - day/night) and place (geography - terrain) of where revelation occurred

Types of Asbab al Nuzul (4)

1.) In response to an event or general situation

2.) In response to a particular question (Surah Maryam)

3.) Revealed as a warning or to explain a particular event (Surah Tawbah)

4.) Revealed amidst a particular incident but the verses carry a general meaning - the meanings of the verses are not exclusive to that incident

Benefits of Asbab-al Nuzul (5)

1.) On being questioned, the Prophet waited for Allah (swt) to send revelation - proving it wasn't coming from him

2.) Shows Allah's defense and support of the Prophet

3.) Shows that Allah removes difficulty of the beleivers and relives them

4.) to understand the original intent of the verse and to help avoid misinterpretation

5.) To know whether the meaning of a verse is "unrestricted" (مطلق) or "restricted" ( مقيد)

The wording of Asbab an Nuzul Reports

1.) Explicit reporting concerning the Sabab an-Nuzul ("the reason this verse was revealed is such and such")

2.) Implied reporting concerning Sabab an-Nuzul ("The Messenger of Allah was asked about such and such issue")

3.) Reports not concerning Sabab an-Nuzul ("this verse was revealed regarding such and such matter")

Different Reasons for One Verse

1.) strength of Narration

2.) Revealed verse was in context of multiple events

3.) Revealed multiple times

Abrogation

Ibn al Hajr defines - to repeal a legal ruling with a later legal proof

Some aspects of Abrogation

1.) Naskh only occurs with laws (ahkam)

2.) Naskh implies an alteration of a previous ruling or its complete repeal

3.) The Nasikh (doer) is revealed after the mankukh (object)

4.) Naskh only occurs with respect to the Quran or Sunnah

5.) Naskh of ruling vs. Naskh of recital

General Types of Tafsirs

1.) Tafsir of the Quran through the Quran

2.) Tafsir of the Quran through the Hadith

3.) Principal interpretation by qualified mufassirun

Reasons for Weaknesses in Narration

1.) Isra'iliyat

2.) Omitting of the chain

3.) People fabricating narrations

Isra'iliyat

-can be historical reports, oral tradition, interpretations

Is it permissible? - yes, but never make Isra'iliyat the foundation, and always mention when the reports are from the Isra'iliyat

Divided into 3 Categories

1.) Completely false - opposite is mentioned in Quran/Hadith--reject

2.) Same thing mentioned by the Quran and Prophet (saw)

3.) Neither Quran or Hadith affirm or reject --stay silent

Levels of Understanding

Ibn Abbas said

1.) That which is apparent to all (Muhkam)

2.) That which fusha Arabic speakers understand

3.) That which the Ulama understand

4.) That which only Allah knows (Mutashabih)

Why is Interpretation Necessary (3)

1.) Language of Quran is eloquent and concise

2.) Quran doesn't always mention the cause for revelation

3.) Multiple meanings for a word, and multiple syntactical possibilities

Jami al-Bayan (Tafsir bin Jarir)

Author: Allamah Abu Ja'far Muhammed ibn Jarrir al Tabari

-died 310 AH

-was a renowed scholar with his own fiqh madhab

-was a muhadith and historian

-unture accusations of being Shi'a --> there were two ibn Jarris

About the Book:

-a primary source for many later commentaries

-Quotes different scholars, the establishes personal preponderance

-All sorts of narrations of various graduations

-Personal interpretations

Ahkam al-Quran by Jassas

Author: Imam Abu Bakr Al-Jassas Al-Razi

-died 370 AH

-premier Hanafi Jurist

-some approaches in dialectic theology were heavily criticized

About the Book:

-deduces juristic injunctions from the Quran

-instead of explaining all, he has taken up the verses which consist of juristic injunctions and details

Al-Bahr al-Muhit

Author: Allamah Abu Hayyan al-Andalusi

-died 754 AH

-lived in Granada, Spain

-a master of balaghah (syntax and rhetoric) in addition to many other fields

-Maliki in Fiqh

About the Book:

-replete with discussions on language

-places special stress on investigating the words of every verse, the different structures, and rhetorical devices

-criticizes wrong interpretations by a previous scholar

al- Durr al-Manthur

Author: Allamah Jalal al-Din al-Suyuti

-died 911 AH

-lived in Egypt

-Shafi in fiqh

About the Book:

-repository of thousands of tafsir reports available per Surah

-does not cite the entire chain, just author

-All sorts of narrations and various gradations

al-Tafsir al-Mazhari

Author: al-Qadi Thana'ullah Panipati

-died in 1225 AH

-lived in Mughal India

-Student of Shah Walliullah al-Dehwali

-Expert in Hanafi fiqh and tasawwuf

About the Book:

-named after his spiritual master - Mirza Mazher Janejanan al-Dehlawi

-Lucid and clear, concise yet comprehensive of various fields

-included related hadith after scrutinizing the sourcing of the Hadiths

Topics of the Quran (4)

1.) Aqa'id - three main points of creed

----a.) Tawhid - everything is created by Allah

----b.) Risalah - belief in all prophets

----c.) Akhira - life after death

2.) Ahkam - law/legal rulings

3.) Qiyas - history of previous Ambiya, people and communities, and future events

4.) Imthal - Parables and Proverbs

What are the Aqa'id (3)

1.) Aqa'id - three main points of creed

----a.) Tawhid - everything is created by Allah

----b.) Risalah - belief in all prophets

----c.) Akhira - life after death

Affirmative Methods to prove Aqidah

Affirmative:

1.) Documented Proof - presents an authentic source which the opponent also accepts

"Look in your own books to find proof of the Prophet Muhammad" (saw) (Shu'ara:196)

2.) Experienced - presenting experiences of previous communities who rejected the prophetic way and were destroyed

3.) Witnessed/Observed - highlighting the signs of Allah in the self and in the universe

4.) Logical - proving through logic and rationale

Negating Methods to prove Aqidah

-negating idoltry

-negating Jews

-negating Christians

-negating hypocrites

What are the Ahkam حقوق الله و العباد (3)

2.) Ahkam - law/legal rulings

a.) (حقوق الله )- Rights of Allah

• specifically related to God

• known as Ibadah (ex. wudu, salah, fasting, etc.)

b.) ( حقوق العباد) - Rights specifically in relation to other humans

• known as Mu'alamat

• (ex. business, trusts, civil issues, etc.)

c.) (حقوق الله و العباد) - Rulings that are related to Allah and other humans

• known as Mu'asharah

• (ex. marriage, divorce, punishments for certain criminal acts, wars, etc.)

Qisas

3.) Qisas - history of previous Ambiya, people and communities, and future events

Past: to take lesson, learn from the call of the Prophets, prove the authenticity of the Quran

Future: signs of the last hour, Yajuj and Majuj (Gog and Magog), blowing of the Trumpet, Implosion of the Cosmos, resurrection, Day of Judgement, Descriptions of Heaven and Hell

Stories from the Past in the Quran (3)

1.) Stories of Messengers, their followers and disbelievers

2.) Unusual events (ex. people of the cave, Maryam AS, battles, splitting of the moon/miracles, people of Shiba, people of the trenches)

3.) Incidents during the time of the Prophet (saw)

How many Prophets were mentioned by name in the Quran

26 Prophets were mentioned by name in the Quran

Who were the Prophets deemed Ulul Azmi min ar-Rasul (اولو العزم من الرسل) (Prophets with firm conviction)

Nuh, Ibrahim, Musa, Isa, Prophets

Wisdom of Previous and Future Incidents (4)

1.) Allah explains the wisdom

2.) Allah displays mercy

3.) Allah shows justics

4.) Prove the Prophethood

Why the repitition of Stories? Why Variance? (4)

1.) to show importance of the story

2.) to teach lessons and remind

3.) variant styles for compatibility

• compatibility with the surah and era of revelation

• Surah = "wall" - each have a distinct style and theme

• era of revelation

• Makki Surahas - are shorter and rhyme

• Madani Surahs- are longer and expansive

4.) shows different angles of the story

*based on what message needs to be conveyed, it will be written with different angles and details

4.) Imthal - (الامثال)

-Parables and Proverbs

Parables

• sussinct, didactic story, prose or verse, which illustrates one or more instructive lessons or principles

• a form of analogy

• (paraphrased: short comparisons/examples Allah (swt) uses to help people understand deeper truths and meanings

Proverbs/Maxims

• statements that become sayings though the menaing of the Quran