Ta’wil according to the Wahhabis 'Abd al-'Aziz Muhammad Sultan...

Ta’wil according to the Wahhabis 'Abd al-'Aziz Muhammad Sultan, a Wahhabi writer, regards Ta'wil as having three meanings: Ta'wil means translating a word from the preferable probability { ihtimal rajih } to the preferred probability { ihtimal marjuh }. Ta'wil means interpretation of the word whether it is consistent or inconsistent with its literal sense. Ta'wil means the unknown truth and quality which are known only to God.

Then, he writes that Ta'wil in any case is forbidden, and the exoteric meaning must not be turned into the esoteric one. The esoteric meaning must be maintained even if it is inconsistent with actuality and reason.[^8] The Shi`ah, however, are of the opinion that with acceptable evidence a word can be separated from its literal meaning and be reunited with its esoteric and actual meaning.

In this respect, proofs, pieces of evidence and verses of the Qur'an can be cited, but dealing lengthily with this subject is beyond the scope of this book. The fact must be pointed out, nevertheless, that the Wahhabi practice of restricting their focus on the literal and exoteric meaning of the verses is extremely dangerous, and it will encounter problems on mystical and rational issues.

The Juhaymi nature of the Shi`ah The Wahhabis identify the Shi`ah who make Ta'wil and tafsir of the verses of the Qur'an as ” Juhaymi s”. This is because Juhaym ibn Safwan, who lived in the 2nd century AH, used to engage in Ta'wil and he believed in it. Of course, contrary to the notion of the Wahhabis, the Shi`ah do not follow that person on the subject of Ta'wil . They rather follow the pure Imams ( 'a ) who have allegorically interpreted innumerable verses.

[^9] After Yusuf ( 'a ) was released from prison and became a chief { 'aziz } in Egypt, and a famine engulfed Palestine and Egypt, the sons of Ya'qub (Jacob) ( 'a ) came to Yusuf ( 'a ) to get their ration of grains. After recognizing one another, Yusuf ( 'a ) requested them to return to Egypt along with their father.