In article <4m5ufr$gm0@usenet.srv.cis.pitt.edu>, bb7203926@omega.ntu.ac.sg
(Ibnu Ar Radi) writes:
Code 19 (An Advice)
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Assalamualaikum wr wb.
'CODE 19' is the most popular arguments to prove the reliability
of the Holy Quran, offered by some Muslims. There are some doubts
of using this assumption and I would advise AGAINST using it for
the following reasons:
1) We should express and pay attention to the verse in
Surah Ali Imran:7.
"He it is Who has sent down to thee the Book: In it
are verses basic and fundamental (established meaning);
They are the foundation of the Book. Others are allegorical
But those in whose hearts is perversity follow the part
thereof that is allegorical, seeking DISCORD and seeking
for ITS HIDDEN MEANINGS. BUT NO ONE KNOWS ITS HIDDEN
MEANINGS EXCEPT ALLAH. "
2) 'Code 19' is not clearly claimed by the Holy Quran.
What does it say about these Muqatta'at letters are
that they are...
"Symbols of a CLEARLY EXPRESSED book"
(Surah Yusof :1)
3) Too much concern over the 'Code 19' may lead us to ignore
the main Message that is contained in the Holy Quran,
whereas it is the Message themselves which should be
understood and conveyed instead.
It should be noted that in the first place, there are rules of
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interpretation provided by the Quran.
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Some people's idea of a Sacred Book is that it should be full of
mysteries - dark corners, confusing expression of words so far removed
from human speech, expressions that can be twisted to confuse -
therefore distinctly crooked. On the contrary, the Quran does not have
such qualities of being crooked. Note the term given to the Quran is
"Qaiyim" which means "straight"; that has no bends and no corners to
mystify and deceive people. The Quran is above all things straight,
clear and clearly expressed. The message and directions are plain for
everyone. Mysteries of spiritual life must necessarily have portions
whose full meaning is clearer to some minds than the others not so
well prepared. But there is nowhere in the Quran any bewilderment nor
any desire to wrap up things in dark sayings objectionable to human
reason, for Allah's purpose is to give clear warnings and lead man
towards the highest bliss.
"In it are MUHKAMAT verse (basic and fundamental verses
of established meaning); They (muhkamat verses) are the
foundation of the Book; Others are MUTASHAA-BIHAT
(allegorical). But those in whose hearts is perversity
follow the part thereof that is allegorical, seeking
discord and searching for hidden meanings, but no one
knows its hidden meanings except Allah."
(Ali Imran 3:7)
Muhkamat Verses
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It is to be noted from the above verses that the Quranic message
is clearly established in the "Muhkamat" verse which are clear
and not doubtful in meaning (no double meanings) in itself, and
therefore leaves no room for doubts nor be subjected to other
interpretations. The word "Muhkamat" is Arabic, and is obtained
from the root word "IHKAM" (perfection,accuracy,exactness,
precision). Therefore in these verses are messages that are clear
in and by themselves.
Mutashaa-bihat Verses
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These are allegorical verses (narrative description of verses with
double meanings) or that are expressed in a figurative manner, with
a meaning that is indirectly implied, but not directly. If these
verses are taken separately, more than one explaination or meanings
can be implied. In this context, Allah (swt) teaches us that it is
in the "Muhkamat" verses that we are to rely upon to find the meaning
made indirectly in "Mutashaa-bihat" verses - for it (Muhkamat) is the
essence of the Quran and they comprised of primary principles
underlying its message. It is only on the basis of these clearly
expressed principles that the narratively described passages can be
correctly and consistently interpreted.
And Allah warns us of those who try to seek disagreement, that they
will rely on the allegorical verses. They would separate and take
out these allegorical verses and try to give their own misunderstood
meanings to it, thereby changing its message and introducing certain
defects to the Quran - when the defect actually lies in their own
inconsistent intepretations. This method of the "deniers of Truth"
is exposed by Allah and we must always be wary of their methods and
follow the instructions of Allah in confronting them. Usually if we
scrutanise their arguments when they attack certain statements in
the Quran, we can find their interpretations of the verses to be:
1) that it is taken out of context
2) that the meaning given by them to this "Mutashaa-bihat"
verse is not consistent with the "Muhkamat" verses that
form the foundation of the message of the Quran.
Interpretations must be consistent (as stated in Surah
Ali-Imran: 7)
3) that they do not rely on the Arabic but rather to one
of the translations in the second language, and limit
their arguments on these only, thereby ignoring the
richness of the Arabic language and forgetting that
the Quran is the revelation in Arabic, which has been
preserved as such in the Arabic.
4) that they are not aware of the sciences of "Tafsir"
(commentary) eg Asbaa-bun-Nuzul (which explains the
circumstances of its revelation) Makkiiyah-wal-
Madaaniyah (whether it was revealed in Makkah or
Medinna) Mujmal-wal-Mufassal (general and detail
injunctions) Nahwu-saraf-mantiq-Bayan-Balaghah-Tajwid
-Qira'at...etc (refer to Al-Ulumul Quran).
wassalamualaikum wr wb
Ibnu Ar Radi
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