Aale Imran, 7

:"This is a sub-article to Aale Imran and Ayah.Al-Imran" is the third chapter of the Qur'an, and this article is about its seventh"' verse.

The verse

*The words translated as "others are allegorical" is "mutashabihatun". It is derived from "shabi", meaning "similar", as in .

*"those having understanding" is translated from "oloo al-albabi". "oloo" means "those", conoting "those of high". "Báb" means door, implying "door to knowledge". Thus, "those who have attained high place in relation to the door of knowlede", or just "those having understanding".

Exegis istr|tafsir

This verse is notable for several reasons. It states that:
#Some Qur'anic verses are to be understood by others
#Some verses are allegorical
#It includes a disclaimer against missrepresenting the allegorical verses as factual.
#It states that a set of people are to be consulted, those firmly rooted in knowledge.

Shi'a understand "those firmly rooted in knowledge" to be the Muhammad's household istr|Ahl al-Bayt. Sunni understand them to the Muslim jurists istr|ulema.

hi'a tafsir

Shi'a quote the fifth Shi'a Imam, the 8th century Muhammad al-Baqir when one of his companions asked him to explain the tradition that, "There is no part of the Qur'an that does not have an outer and an inner aspect, and there is no letter contained in it that does not have a defining limit, and that limit is knowable." He replied: cquote|bgcolor=#F0FFF0|The outer aspect of the Qur'an is the totality of that which has been revealed. Its inner aspect is the interpretation thereof. Part of this has already been accomplished, and part remains to be accomplished in the future. For the interpretation of the Qur'an traverses its course, like the sun and the moon, and whenever the time is apposite, a further portion of it is accomplished. God said: "Its interpretation is known only to God and those firmly routed in knowledge." We it is who are throughly acquainted with the interpretation of the Qur'an. [Imamate and Leadership [http://home.swipnet.se/islam/imamate.htm] chapter "The Sources of theImam's Knowledge" [http://home.swipnet.se/islam/books/imamate/lesson21.htm] by Mujtaba Musavi Lari quoting from Tafsir al-Mizan, Vol. III, p.74. by Allameh Tabatabaei [http://home.swipnet.se/islam/books/imamate/notes.htm] ] .

Shi'a quote the sixth Shi'a Imam, the 8th century Ja'far al-Sadiq:cquote|bgcolor=#F0FFF0|The most exalted of those firmly rooted in knowledge was the Messenger of God. Whatever God Almighty Sent to him, He taught him also its interpretation. Indeed God has revealed nothing ill the interpretation of which He has not instructed the Prophet and his successors, When one of those who has no share in the science of interpretation expresses an opinion on the subject, God responds to him, All they can say is, "We believe it all to be from God." The Qur'an contains verses that are specific in their application and others that are general; verses that are categorical and others that are metaphorical; and verses that are abrogating and others that are abrogated. It is those firmly rooted in knowledge who have the knowledge of all this. [Imamate and Leadership [http://home.swipnet.se/islam/imamate.htm] chapter "The Sources of theImam's Knowledge" [http://home.swipnet.se/islam/books/imamate/lesson21.htm] by Mujtaba Musavi Lari quoting from Usul al-Kafi, Vol. I, p. 213. by Muhammad Ya'qub Kulainy [http://home.swipnet.se/islam/books/imamate/notes.htm] ] .

ee also

*Hadith of the door to knowledge

References