Page 29 - Tafsir of surat at tawba repentance
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© Islamic Online University Usool at-Tafseer
would be undermined from its base. Thus, the only acceptable tafseer is that
which adheres to the following sequence: tafseer of Qur’aan by the Qur’aan, then
by the Sunnah, then by the sayings of the sahaabah, then by language, and finally
by opinion, as long as it is based on the preceding four methods and does not
contradict any of them.
Deviant Tafseers
In order to clarify the potential danger and corruption inherent in tafseer by
unsubstantiated opinion, the following examples of deviant tafseers have been
collected from various movements, sects, and philosophical schools from the
distant past to the present. From the tenth century CE (4th century AH), some
Soofees have interpreted “Pharaoh” to mean the heart in Allaah’s command to
Prophet Moosaa:
( ÇÊÐÈ 4ÓxösÛ ¼çm¯RÎ) tböqtãóÏù 4n<Î) ó=ydø$# )
90
“Go to Pharaoh, for verily he has transgressed,”
as it is the heart which oppresses every man, causing him to transgress. Others
interpreted Allaah’s command to Prophet Moosaa:
( x8$|Átã È,ø9r&ur )
91
“Throw down your staff,”
as a command to throw aside the material world and only depend on Allaah.
These spiritualistic tafseers are indicative of the Soofee movement’s
overemphasis of the spiritual over the material.
90
Soorah an-Naazi‘aat (79):17.
91
Soorah an-Naml (27):10.
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