ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books A New Analysis of Wahhabi Doctrines Allegorical Interpretation {Ta’wil} in the Qur’an Based on the classification of the verses of the Qur'an into the definitive { muhkam } and the metaphorical { mutashabih },[^1] and into the abrogating { nasikh } and the abrogated { mansukh }, in explaining some verses, one should not content himself with only their external purport because their external purport could be doubtful and misleading.

Meanwhile, according to the traditions, the Qur'an has many cores and layers, the understanding which is not possible for everyone. As such, in understanding some verses, it is necessary to take other verses into account.

[^6] There are two approaches in dealing with these kinds of verses. One group is the literalists who content themselves with the literal meaning of the verses. The other group is the allegorists who take into account other verses in explaining and analyzing these kinds of verses, and they believe in allegorical interpretation { Ta'wil }.

For instance, in interpreting the verse, (عَلى الْعَرْشِ استَوَى) ” … settled on the Throne,” [^7] they have said that ” 'arsh ” is the Throne exclusive for God where He is settled, but the allegorists have given two probabilities for this verse: (1) 'arsh is a thing having the three dimensions of width, height and depth; and (2) 'arsh alludes to a fact and concept having no material characteristics.

It is worthy to note that 'Allamah Tabataba'i ( r ) accepts the first probability while the late Sha'rani ( r ) advocates the second probability. It must be emphasized that in interpreting these kinds of verses, those who content themselves with their literal meanings are committing an indescribable mistake and blunder. It is because if one believes in the literal interpretation of ” … settled on the Throne,” he must then assume God to have a physical body, while God is not a body.