Tafsir at-Tabari: Jami' al-Bayan - Dar al-Tarbiyah wa al-Turath Edition

Volume 1 · Page 85The statement on the aspects through which knowledge of the interpretation of the Quran is reached

Translation · EN

AI translation

(Discourse on the Avenues Through Which the Knowledge of the Interpretation of the Qur'an is Reached)

Abū Jaʿfar said: We have already spoken regarding the evidence that the Qur'an is entirely Arabic, and that it was revealed in the dialects of some Arabs to the exclusion of others, and that the recitation of the Muslims today—and their codices that are among them—are in some of the dialects in which the Qur'an was revealed, not all of them. We have also spoken—in clarifying what the Qur'an contains of light, proof, wisdom, and clear explanation (1) which God has deposited within it: of His commands and prohibitions, His lawful and prohibited matters, His promises and threats, its decisive and ambiguous verses, and the subtleties of His wisdom—what is sufficient for whomever is granted success to understand it.

We shall now speak to clarify the avenues for seeking its interpretation:

God, Exalted is His mention and Sanctified are His names, said to His Prophet Muḥammad, Peace and blessings of God be upon him: {And We revealed to you the message that you may make clear to the people what was sent down to them and that they might give thought} [Sūrat al-Naḥl: 44]. He also said, Exalted is His mention: {And We have not revealed to you the Book except for you to make clear to them that wherein they have differed and as guidance and mercy for a people who believe} [Sūrat al-Naḥl: 64]. And He said: {It is He who has sent down to you the Book; in it are decisive verses—they are the foundation of the Book—and others ambiguous. As for those in whose hearts is deviation, they will follow that of it which is ambiguous, seeking discord and seeking an interpretation. And no one knows its interpretation except God. But those firm in knowledge say, "We believe in it. All of it is from our Lord." And no one will be reminded except those of understanding} [Sūrat Āl ʿImrān: 7].

Thus, it has become clear by the clarification of God, Exalted is His mention:

Notes

(1) In the printed edition: "and the clarification."

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Arabic (Source)

(القول في الوجوه التي من قبلها يُوصَل إلى معرفة تأويل القرآن)قال أبو جعفر: قد قلنا في الدلالة على أن القرآن كله عربي، وأنه نزل بألسُن بعض العرب دونَ ألسن جميعها، وأن قراءة المسلمين اليوم -ومصاحفَهم التي هي بين أظهرهم- ببعض الألسن التي نزل بها القرآن دون جميعها. وقلنا -في البيان عمّا يحويه القرآنُ من النور والبرهان، والحكمة والتِّبْيان (١) التي أودعها الله إياه: من أمره ونهيه، وحلاله وحرامه، ووعده ووعيده، ومحكمه ومتشابهه، ولطائف حُكمه- ما فيه الكفاية لمن وُفِّق لفهمه.ونحن قائلون في البيان عن وُجوه مطالب تأويله:قال الله جل ذكره وتقدست أسماؤه، لنبيه محمد ﷺ: ﴿وَأَنزلْنَا إِلَيْكَ الذِّكْرَ لِتُبَيِّنَ لِلنَّاسِ مَا نزلَ إِلَيْهِمْ وَلَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ﴾ [سورة النحل: ٤٤] ، وقال أيضًا جل ذكره: ﴿وَمَا أَنزلْنَا عَلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ إِلا لِتُبَيِّنَ لَهُمُ الَّذِي اخْتَلَفُوا فِيهِ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةً لِقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ﴾ [سورة النحل: ٦٤] ، وقال: ﴿هُوَ الَّذِي أَنزلَ عَلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ مِنْهُ آيَاتٌ مُحْكَمَاتٌ هُنَّ أُمُّ الْكِتَابِ وَأُخَرُ مُتَشَابِهَاتٌ فَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ زَيْغٌ فَيَتَّبِعُونَ مَا تَشَابَهَ مِنْهُ ابْتِغَاءَ الْفِتْنَةِ وَابْتِغَاءَ تَأْوِيلِهِ وَمَا يَعْلَمُ تَأْوِيلَهُ إِلا اللَّهُ وَالرَّاسِخُونَ فِي الْعِلْمِ يَقُولُونَ آمَنَّا بِهِ كُلٌّ مِنْ عِنْدِ رَبِّنَا وَمَا يَذَّكَّرُ إِلا أُولُو الألْبَابِ﴾ [سورة آل عمران: ٧] .فقد تبين ببيان الله جلّ ذكره:

Notes

(١) في المطبوعة: "والبيان".