In it, are verses basic or fundamental (of established...

In it, are verses basic or fundamental (of established meaning); they are the foundation of the Book: others are allegorical. But those in whose hearts is a perversity follow the part thereof that is allegorical, seeking discord, and searching for its hidden meanings, but no one knows its hidden meanings except Allah and those who are firmly grounded in knowledge.

They say: ‘We believe in the Book; the whole of it is from our Lord.’ And none will grasp the Message except the people of understanding.” (Surat Ali-’Imran (3), Verse 7) Again, it warns and says that if people do not approach the Qur`an with an open heart, then they may be misguided by some of its contents:  إِنَّ اللٌّهَ لاَ يَسْتَحْيِي أَنْ يَضْرِبَ مَثَلاً مَا بَعُوضَةً فَمَا فَوْقَهَا.

فَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا فَيَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّهُ الْحَقُّ مِنْ رَبِّهِمْ وَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا فَيَقُولُونَ مَاذَا أَرَادَ اللٌّهُ بِهٌذَا مَثَلاً. يُضِلُّ بِهِ كَــثِيرًا وَيَهْدِي بِهِ كَـثِيرًا وَمَا يُضِلُّ بِهِ إِلاَّ الْفَاسِقِينَ “Allah does not disdain from the use of the similitude of things, lowest as well as highest.

Those who believe know that it is the truth from their Lord; but those who reject faith say: ‘What does Allah mean by this similitude?’ By it He causes many to stray, and many He leads into the right path; but He causes not to stray, except those who forsake (the path).” (Suratul Baqarah (2), Verse 26) Ayatullah Subhani has enumerated fourteen conditions for the correct interpretation of the Qur`anic verses.

The understanding and interpretation is permissible provided it is approached with the conditions mentioned in this treatise otherwise one will be guilty of imposing one’s personal opinions on the Qur`an.

 An example of absurd interpretation is Rashad Khalifa’s self-styled “ Authorized English Version ” of the Qur`an that totally ignores the context in which the Qur`an was revealed as well as the teachings and interpretation given by the Prophet (‘s) who was the recipient, teacher, and the living embodiment of the Qur`an.

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