Halaqah #2 - 12/4/06

Seeking knowledge is the path to Jannah

Prophet Muhammad (sallahu alaihyi wa salaam) said, “Whoever goes down a path/road searching for knowledge, Allah will make it easy for him the road to Paradise.” (Sahih Muslim, Vol. 3/Hadith No.99)

The lowest state in Earth is the Duniya!

We as human beings are lucky because we get the opportunity to worship Allah (swt).

Our final home is Jannah, not this duniya. We are only here for a temporary basis.

Introduction to Tafseer:

Tafseer is what Allah intended.

The Qur’an was sent so that we implement it! And preserve it!

In Surah Al-Qiyaama, ayats 16-19:

لَا تُحَرِّكْ بِهِ لِسَانَكَ لِتَعْجَلَ بِهِ

Move not thy tongue concerning the (Qur'an) to make haste therewith. (16)

إِنَّ عَلَيْنَا جَمْعَهُ وَقُرْآنَهُ

It is for Us to collect it and to promulgate it: (17)

فَإِذَا قَرَأْنَاهُ فَاتَّبِعْ قُرْآنَهُ

But when We have promulgated it, follow thou its recital (as promulgated): (18)

ثُمَّ إِنَّ عَلَيْنَا بَيَانَهُ

But when We have promulgated it, follow thou its recital (as promulgated): (19)

In Surah An-Nahl, ayat 64:

وَمَا أَنزَلْنَا عَلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ إِلاَّ لِتُبَيِّنَ لَهُمُ الَّذِي اخْتَلَفُواْ فِيهِ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةً لِّقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ

And We sent down the Book to thee for the express purpose, that thou shouldst make clear to them those things in which they differ, and that it should be a guide and a mercy to those who believe. (64)

The Prophet’s adherence and practice of the Qur’an was so exemplary, that upon being asked about his character, his wife Aisha said: “…his character was that of the Qur’an.” (Muslim).

The definition of the Qur’an = ka’rah, which means to recite. The literal meaning is recitation and reading.

The Qur’an is both an object or a subject.

Acording to Imam Shafee, the word Qur’an was not derived from anything and instead it’s a noun.

According to the majority of the scholars the definition of the Qur’an is the actual speech of Allah (swt).

Any definition must have a ‘jamaa and mana. ‘Jamaa refers to inclusive and mana is exclusive. It should be concise and precise à accuracy.

The shortest definition of Qur’an is it is the speech of Allah that was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (sallahu alahyi wa salaam) through Angel Jibrael.

Isnad = chain of narrations. There has to be connections between the narraters and the listners have to verify it (chain of narrations need to be connected)

Hadith has to come through muthwathir (chain of narrations that is greater in number)

Tafseer comes from the root word fussara (to uncover something). To explain something, you have to unveil/uncover it.

There are differences of opinions on whether Prophet Muhammad (sallahu alaiyhi wa salaam) explained the whole Qur’an or only explained some parts. Majority of the scholors agree that Prophet Muhammad (sallahu alaiyhi wa salaam) did explain the whole Qur’an because he was an embodiment of it. The reference to this is the hadith: The Prophet’s adherence and practice of the Qur’an was so exemplary, that upon being asked about his character, his wife Aisha said: “…his character was that of the Qur’an.” (Muslim).

There are five methods of tafseer that were used by the Saahabah during Prophet Muhammad (sallahu alaihyi wa salaam):

• To interpret the Qur’an using the Qur’an
• To interpret the Qur’an using Prophet Muhammad (sallahu alaihyi wa salaam) (the sunnah)
• To interpret the Qur’an using knowledge they gained from the understanding of the Qur’an (ishtihad)
• To interpret the Qur’an using Arabic
• To interpret the Qur’an using the Israelilyte

Ibn Masood was basically the most dedicated to teach tafseer.