Salaamun Alaykum

I am writing this post as a response for the ‘TOUBAYYINA’ issue which followers of hearsay are using as their proof so that they can have full permission to use all other sources to explain the Quran beside the Quran itself… Even if much more than often, they are in direct contradiction with the Quran.  Here is a quote from their explanation… please take your time to read it well, then move down for my response.

Let us look at a popular example. Allaah says in Surah an-Nahl, verse 44:

وأنزلنا إليك الذكر لتبين للناس ما نزل إليهم ولعلهم يتفكرون

((And we have sent down the remembrance so that you may explain to the people that which has been revealed to them so that they may contemplate))

The word “Dhikr” which translates as “Remembrance” refers to the Qur’aan and this is not disputed. But the word “explain” is where the Quraanites place their manipulations.

The Sunnah is the explanation of the Qur’aan as Imaam Ahmad said in his Usool as-Sunnah:

السنة تفسر القرآن

((The Sunnah explains the Qur’aan))

The Quraanites will maintain that the Qur’aan does not need any explanation and it is clear to all who read it. They use some verses to support themselves as evidence for this.

Let us first look at this word: “لِتُبَيِّنَ”, “so that you may explain”

Before proceeding, it must be understood that with any language the “proofs” and “evidences” for a matter are not formulated except by “تتبع والإستقراء”, meaning by following the development of the language from its origins. Shaykh ibn Uthaymeen explained this in his explanation of Kitaab al-Aajurrumiyyah, a well-known book on Arabic Grammar. So in order to understand the language, one must look at the way it was used and understood in the past. This is how the dictionaries have recorded the meanings of words and this is how the language was understood. This concept of linguistic transmission itself is a refutation of the Quraanite rejection of the sciences of narration because linguistics itself is a narrative science.

So InshaAllaah we will look at how the word “بَيَّنَ” “Bayyinah” was used and understood during the time of the Prophet –peace be upon him-.

Ibn Mandhoor mentioned in his monumental compilation: Lisaanul ‘Arab (The language/tongue of the Arabs) concerning the word: بَيَّنَ (Bayyanah):

وتَبَيَّنَ الشيءُ: ظَهَر

((And to ‘Bayyanah’ (clarify) something is to make it manifest))

And notice there is a difference between Bayyanah and Bayyinah. Ibn Mandhoor mentioned:

ومنه قوله تعالى: آياتٍ مُبَيِّناتٍ، بكسر الياء وتشديدها، بمعنى مُتبيِّنات، ومن قرأَ مُبَيَّنات بفتح الياء فالمعنى أَن الله بَيَّنَها

((And from it (the meaning) is the statement of The Most High (Allaah): “Clear Verses” with the Kasrah [ِ] of the Yaa [ي] and giving an emphasis/Shaddah [ّ], and whoever recites “Mubayinaat” with a Fat-hah [َ] on the Yaa [ي] then the meaning is that Allaah is the One who clarified it.))

This is a proof that in the case of this Ayah, it is not Allaah who “explains” but rather the Prophet – peaces be upon him-.

And this is why the scholars of Tafseer have said that the meaning of this verse is:

لتوضح للناس ما خفي مِن معانيه وأحكامه

((To expound to the people what comes from its meanings and its rulings.)) (Tafseer al Maysar)

Imaam ash-Shanqeetee said in his Adwaaul Bayaan:

وقد ذكر جل وعلا في هذه الآية حكمتين من حكم إنزال القرآن على النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم

((And The Most Majestic and Most High (Allaah) mentioned in this verse two rulings from the ruling of the revelation of the Qur’aan to the Prophet –peace be upon him-))

He continues:

إحداهما ـ أن يبين للناس ما نزل إليهم في هذا الكتاب من الأوامر والنواهي، والوعد والوعيد، ونحو ذلك. وقد بين هذه الحكمة في غير هذا الموضع أيضاً. كقوله: {وَمَآ أَنْزَلْنَا عَلَيْكَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ إِلاَّ لِتُبَيِّنَ لَهُمُ ٱلَّذِى ٱخْتَلَفُواْ فِيهِ}، وقوله {إِنَّآ أَنزَلْنَا إِلَيْكَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ بِٱلْحَقِّ لِتَحْكُمَ بَيْنَ ٱلنَّاسِ}.

((The first of them: to explain to the people what has been revealed in this Book from the orders and prohibitions, the promises and covenants, and like that. And this ruling has been clarified in other than this place as well. Such as His statement: “And We have not revealed to you this Book except that you explain to them that which they differ about”, and His statement: “Indeed We have revealed to you a book in Truth that you may judge between the people”))

The second matter from this Ayah is the contemplation of what has been revealed.

Imaam as-Sa’dee said in his Tayseerul Kareem:

وهذا شامل لتبيين ألفاظه وتبيين معانيه

((And this means to clarify its wordings and make clear its meanings))

Imaam at-Tabaree said in his Jaami’ Ahkaam al Qur’aan:

لتعرفهم ما أنـزل إليهم من ذلك

((So that you may explain to them what has been revealed to them from that))

Imaam al-Qurtubee said in his Tafseer:

فالرسول صلى الله عليه وسلم مبين عن الله عز وجل مراده مما أجمله في كتابه من أحكام الصلاة والزكاة، وغير ذلك مما لم يفصله

((So the Messenger –Peace be upon him- is the one who explains from Allaah what He intends in what He says in His Book from the rulings of Prayer, Charity, and other than that from that which He has not explained.))

Ibn Katheer said in his Tafseer:

ولهذا قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ” ألا إني أوتيت القرآن ومثله معه ” يعني السنة . والسنة أيضا تنزل عليهم بالوحي كما ينزل القرآن إلا أنها لا تتلى كما يتلي القرآن وقد استدل الامام الشافعي رحمه الله تعالى وغيره من الائمة على ذلك بأدلة كثيرة ليس هذا موضع ذلك

((And due to this the Messenger of Allaah –Peace be upon him- said: “Rather I have been given the Qur’aan and something that is like it with it”, meaning the Sunnah. And the Sunnah likewise was sent down as a revelation just as the Qur’aan was revealed except that it is not recited as the Qur’aan is recited and Imaam ash-Shaafi’ee –may Allaah have Mercy upon him- and other then him from the Imaams used this as evidence and many other evidences and this is not the place to mention them.))

What the Quraanites cast their doubts on is on the word “Tubayyina” (to explain). They try to loosen the meaning to refer to pronounce without any explanation. This way they can nullify the understanding and explanations and statements of the Prophet –Peace be upon him-.

These people talk as if they know so much on us… They have this ‘I am smarter than you….’ complex within them.

Let me clarify,

Firstly, You cannot make a generalization of the understanding of some people… This is true and same for any sect and faction… Be it sunnism, shias, barelwis and whatever else…  What he just wrote above is only HIS PERSONAL opinion on the matter which is already biased since the start.

As you may know, the Quran explains itself and this is called tasreef… Who can explain a book to you better than the author himself? Does not this make sense to you? Or are you acting as if you do not understand!

He gave so many ’so and so’ meaning for the word toubayyina as is acting as if he has the best understanding of the word or his shuyukh has the best understanding of the matter.  However, my response is not based on my understanding, but directly from the Quran.. 

If you are familiar with the Quran and reading/studying it actively.. You would know that there are various techniques and methodologies which have been used all over the Quran to enforce and convey a better and accurate understanding of any matter which has to be outlined… One of the techniques that has been used in the Quran is the use of opposites.  For example People of Paradise vs People of Hell and many other terms as well.

So please check verse 3:187

 

In this verse, Allah is making it clear that He gave the People of the Book the revelation for them to REVEAL/SHOW clearly to the people and not to HIDE it behind their backs!  Here is the direct opposite of the word toubayyina…. Allah ordered the People of the book to do something but they did exactly the opposite. 

So, the proper meaning of toubayyina according to this verse is the opposite of HIDING something. So we can say expose it to the people clearly so that they may SEE/HEAR/LISTEN/THINK/CONTEMPLATE.  Now it is up to you to decide what you want to do but the Quran is very clear and detailed.  The Ulemas or however they may call themselves can keep doing their lectures and exposee on TOUBAYYINA and keep playing tongue-twisting but the Quran has already judge on this.  Its up to you to decide what and how you want to live your deen.

Also, something worth noting is the verse which the smart guy is using… the 16:44, read below

In this verse firstly it says that the Messenger has to REVEAL/SHOW/EXPOSE clearly and not hide what HAS BEEN REVEALED to him and at the end of the verse it says SO THAT THEY MAY THINK!  It is not as if the messenger has to spread stuff which is not even present in the Quran, not even in the BIG LINES!

That is, so that people can use their minds and contemplate on what has been revealed to them… And frankly, the hadith books do not contain much stuff to think about, they are just ‘You should do this on that…’ while verily and without doubt, it is the Quran which is calling you for a deeper thought and comtemplation.  It is the Quran which contains so much stuff which wakes up our mind and start a great deal of sparks inside the brain.  There is none like the Quran …

So, I think I have made my point on this issue… dear readers, as you see, there is no interpretation/mis-interpretation/mis-understanding/tongue-twisting tactics which I have been using throughout this post… Although, the FOLLOWERS OF HEARSAY will like to make you think of someone who WANTS to follow the Quran.  I believe that the Quran is complete and has all my answers.  My proof is the Quran alone.  My proof are the words of my RAB.  Only a single verse is enough to make a point from his long and exhausting lecture on a very simple and easy to understand term.  However, this is their skill and they are very professional at it… To make you think that you are less than nothing, that you are a real idiot with no understanding and that they know and understand better than you… However, PAY HEED!! These people will flee from you on the day when you will be judged… Do no even think that they will become your helpers and savior!  Read what YOUR LORD IS SAYING.

Here you LORD is saying that those who do not use their intellect as  they should, they are worse than CATTLES! Now it is up to you to try to find the moral in this verse.  For example, why Allah used the word CATTLE (ox,cow,goat,sheep etc) instead of birds,lions,mosquito etc for example.  Indeed, each word has been used to convey a very specific message.  Do you not think?

May Allah guide us to the straight path.

Wassalaam

In reply to: Doubts of the Quraanites: Interpretations & Understandings