Page 27 - Tafsir of surat at tawba repentance

© Islamic Online University Usool at-Tafseer

vocabulary fell into disuse. This natural process necessitated the explanation of
some of the Qur’aanic words according to their literal and grammatical meanings.
Consequently, this period witnessed the appearance of dictionaries written
specifically to deal with Qur’aanic Arabic vocabulary and philology. In cases
where words had more than one meaning, this step created differences of opinion
which could only be solved by finding some support in the Sunnah. For example,
“lams” literally means to touch, but figuratively it means sexual intercourse.
Thus, the later scholars were of two basic opinions concerning the following
verse,

( $Y7ÍhŠsÛ #Y‰‹Ïè|¹ (#qßJ£Ju‹tFsù [ä!$tB (#r߉ÅgrB öNn=sù uä!$|¡ÏiY9$# ãLäêó¡yJ»s9 ÷rr& )

“...or you (laamastum) women and cannot find water, then make
85
tayammum (ritual purification with dust).”

Imaams ash-Shaafi‘ee and Maalik held that it meant the touch of the hand, though
each imaam added certain stipulations to it. On the other hand, Imaam Aboo
Haneefah ruled that it meant sexual intercourse. However, the Prophet’s wives
reported that he kissed them before performing salaah, which indicated that
86
touching was not intended by this verse.
The four above-mentioned methods come under the general title of tafseer
bir-riwaayah or tafseer bil-ma’thoor (tafseer based on narration) and, as such,
leave little room for argument. Although the fourth step is oftentimes based on
narrations from earlier generations, at other times it can be highly opinionated and
controversial. For example, Yusuf Ali translates the word “burooj” used in the
85th soorah as “the Zodiacal signs,” while Pickthall translates it as “Mansions of
the Stars,” but says in his introduction to the soorah that it “is applied to the signs
of the zodiac.” Thus, according to them, Allaah is making an oath by the zodiacal
signs. Some English-speaking Muslims have taken this to be indirect support for
astrology. However, “burooj” originally only meant “star con-figuration,” and it
was not until later times that it was used to refer to the imaginary figures of the

85
Soorah an-Nisaa’ (4):43.
86
The hadeeth is reported by ‘Aa’ishah and collected by Aboo Daawood (Sunan Abu Dawud, vol.
1, p. 43, no. 179), at-Tirmithee, Ibn Maajah and Ahmad. Al-Albaanee authenticated it in Saheeh
Sunan Abee Daawood, vol. 1, p. 36, no. 165.

http://www.islamiconlineuniversity.com 27