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The Prophetic Commentary of the Qur’ân

By Sheikh Salman b. Fahd al-Oadah

General Supervisor of the IslamToday Website

INTRODUCTION

“Praise be to Allah who revealed to His servant the Book and placed therein no

crookedness. He has made it straight in order that He may warn of a terrible punishment

from him and that He may give glad tidings to the believers who work righteous deeds

that they shall have a great reward wherein they shall abide forever. Further, that He

may warn those who claim that Allah has begotten a son.” [ Sûrah al-Kahf : 1-4]

May Allah’s peace and blessings be upon His Messenger who said: “I was given the

Qur’ân and something else like it. I fear lest a man will sit contentedly reclining and say:

‘You must follow this Qur’ân. Whatever you find therein permissible, permit it, and

whatever you find therein prohibited, forbid it.’ Nay, for indeed whatever Allah’s

Messenger has prohibited, it is as if Allah has prohibited it.” 1

It is one of Allah’s blessings upon humanity that He has preserved among them His

revealed words without allowing any corruption to alter them. This may indeed be

Allah’s greatest blessing upon humanity as a whole, since His Book provides them with a

way to properly govern their lives and resolve their disputes.

The Qur’ân came to humanity after all the previous revealed scriptures had either been

lost or, like the Torah and the Gospel , corrupted. Allah speaks about how people had

corrupted the scriptures, saying: “Woe to those who write the Book with their own hands

and then say: ‘This is from Allah’ to gain from it a paltry price. So woe to them for what

their hands have written and woe to them for what they gain from it.” [ Sûrah al-Baqarah :

79]

If the Qur’ân is Allah’s greatest blessing upon humanity, it follows that knowledge of the

commentary and interpretation of the Qur’ân is the greatest of all knowledge, since it is

the knowledge that gives humanity a correct understanding of what Allah is saying to

them. This is why scholars throughout history have given this field of study so much

attention and have written so extensively about it.

The commentary of the Qur’ân began at the time of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon

him). Indeed, the Prophet (peace be upon him) is the primary source for explaining

Allah’s Book. He explained the meanings of the Qur’ân’s verses by his words and by his

deeds.

1 Musnad Ahmad (17174), Sunan al-Dârimî (606), Sunan Abî Dâwûd (4594), Sunan al-Tirmidhî (2664),

and Sunan Ibn Mâjah (12).

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In this short treatise, we shall investigate this prophetic commentary of the Qur’ân. This

investigation will be organized into the following chapters:

• Chapter One : Special qualities of the Qur’ân

• Chapter Two: Muslim efforts in interpreting the Qur’ân

• Chapter Three: How the Prophet conveyed the Qur’ân

• Chapter Four: The commentary of the Companions

• Chapter Five: How the Sunnah explains the Qur’ân

CHAPTER ONE

Special Qualities of the Qur’ân

Without a doubt, the most salient feature of the Qur’ân is that it is Allah’s word. Allah

says: “It is indeed a mighty Book. Falsehood cannot approach it from before it or from

behind it. It is revelation from one who is wise and worthy of praise.” [ Sûrah Fussilat :

41-42]

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “The Qur’ân has the distinction over all other

speech that Allah has over His Creation.” 2

It is sufficient that the Qur’ân is the speech of Allah. It needs no other special distinction

after that. However, I feel that it is necessary for the purpose of this treatise for me to

point out three more remarkable qualities of Allah’s Book.

1. The first of these distinctive features is that the Qur’ân has been perfectly preserved.

Allah says: “Indeed, We have revealed the Remembrance, and indeed We shall be its

protector.” [ Sûrah al-Hijr : 9]

Since the time it was revealed, Allah has preserved the Qur’ân in the hearts of the people

and in writing. It had been committed to memory by the Companions and by every

generation that came after them. The care paid by the Muslims in accurately recording

and memorizing the Qur’ân has been phenomenal. Every letter and vowel mark

indicating every mode of reciting the Qur’ân has been preserved without the least

addition or subtraction.

Al-Qurtubî and some other scholars of Qur’ânic commentary mention an interesting story

regarding the preservation of the Qur’ân :

The Caliph al-Ma`mûn used to convene intellectual gatherings. One of these meetings

was attended by a man wearing beautiful clothing, possessing a handsome face, and

followed by a sweet fragrance. He spoke in a most eloquent manner. When the meeting

2 Sunan al-Dârimî (3399), Sunan al-Tirmidhî (2926), and al-Bayhaqî in Shu`ab al-Îmân (2015). Al-

Tirmidhî graded it as a good but unusual hadîth ( hasan gharîb ), but its chain of transmission contains some

weakness.

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was adjourned, al-Ma’mûn summoned this man and asked him: “Are you from the

Israelites?” He replied that he was. Al-Ma’mûn said: “Accept Islam and I shall arrange

good things for you.” Al-Ma’mûn made him a number of promises.

The man merely replied “My religion and the religion of my forefathers” and went away.

A year later, he returned as a Muslim. He spoke about matters of Islamic Law in a most

proficient manner. When the meeting was adjourned, al-Ma’mûn again summoned him

and said: “Are you not the man who was with us before?” He replied that he was. Al-

Ma’mûn then asked him what had prompted him to accept Islam.

He replied: “When I left your presence, I wished to put these religions to the test. And

you indeed regard me a man of keen intellect. So I turned my attention to the Torah . I

produced three copies of it, each time adding and deleting some things from it. Then I

took these copies to the place of prayer and they were purchased from me.

“I then turned my attention to the Gospel and drafted three copies of it, each time adding

and deleting some things from it. Then I took these copies to the church and they were

purchased from me.

“I then turned my attention to the Qur’ân and drafted three copies of it, each time adding

and deleting some things from it. Then I took these copies to the copyists and they

skimmed through them. When they found the additions and deletions that I had made,

they threw them aside and did not purchase them. So I came to know that this is a

protected book, and this is the reason that I accepted Islam.” 3

2. The second distinctive feature is that the Qur’ân is complete and comprehensive. Allah

says about the Qur’ân that it is “…a detailed exposition of all things” [ Sûrah Yûsuf : 111]

There is no matter that humanity needs to know about in their religion or their worldly

life without the Qur’ân discussing it. It does so by mentioning it directly, or by providing

a general principle that covers it, or by referring to another source like the Sunnah,

juristic consensus, or juristic analogy.

In this way, every issue of this world and the next that concerns people individually or

collectively is dealt with, from matters of faith and morality to social, political, and

economic concerns. It is all found in the Qur’ân. If it is not mentioned specifically, then it

is covered as part of something broader.

The Qur’ân provides the essential teachings of faith and law and embraces in its

comprehensiveness all the affairs of human life.

3 Tafsîr al-Qurtubî (10/5-6)

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3. The third distinctive feature is that the Qur’ân is the absolute, indisputable truth. Allah

says: “This is the Book wherein there is no doubt, a guide for those who fear Allah.”

[ Sûrah al-Baqarah : 2]

Whatever the Qur’ân says about the past, present, and future is true. It is absolutely

impossible for the Qur’ân to be in contradiction with the actualities of the world, whether

the historical events of the past or the scientific discoveries of the future.

We assert without the least hesitation on the basis of our faith in Allah that everything the

Qur’ân says about the nations of the past, the happenings of the future, the stories of the

Prophets, the physical realities of the universe, and the human soul are all true. For this

reason, we know that it is impossible for science to come with a fact that contradicts with

the Qur’ân. Whoever claims that there is a scientific fact that contradicts with the Qur’ân

is either misunderstanding the Qur’ân or the scientific concepts in question.

Such a contradiction is impossible, because the one who revealed the Qur’ân is the one

who created the universe and everything within it. It is not possible that Allah will say

anything about His Creation except the absolute truth. Allah says: “Should He who

created not know? And He is the knower of subtleties, the All-Aware.” [ Sûrah al-Mulk :

14]

Just as we can be sure that what the Qur’an informs us about is undoubtedly true, we can

be equally sure that what the Qur’ân legislates for us is undoubtedly just. Allah says:

“The word of your Lord is fulfilled in truth and justice.” [ Sûrah al-An`âm : 115] This

means that it is true in what it informs us of and just in what it legislates for us.

The blessing of the Qur’an

The Qur’ân is the criterion and the scale of reference for all disputes and disagreements

in matters of religion. We can appreciate the great blessing that Allah has given us in

preserving the Qur’ân up to our time. It is the greatest of blessings bestowed upon the

Muslims, and indeed upon all humanity.

We can show our thanks for this blessing by allowing the Qur’ân to govern our lives, our

families, and our societies. The Qur’ân should be referred to in all of our affairs. If we

fail to do so, we will be showing ingratitude for this greatest of blessings. The

punishment for this ingratitude is a painful one indeed. It is that the Qur’ân will be taken

away from us and not a trace of it will be left on Earth.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Islam will be obliterated just like a stain is

washed out of a garment. Fasting, prayer, the pilgrimage rites, and charity will be

unknown. Allah’s Book will be lifted up on a night so that not even a verse of it will

remain on Earth.” 4 The Qur’ân shall be removed from the hearts of men and from the

pages on which it is written because it will cease to be acted upon and benefited from.

4 Sunan Ibn Mâjah (4049), Mustadrak al-Hâkim (8460), and al-Bayhaqî’s Shu`ab al-Îmân (2028).

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Out of respect for His words, Allah will lift it away from those who ignore it and deny it

the recognition that it deserves.

CHAPTER TWO

Muslim Efforts in Interpreting the Qur’ân

The Qur’ân was revealed to the Prophet (peace be upon him) and his Companions learned

it from him. They, in turn, taught it to the Muslims who came after them. The Muslims

showed the Qur’ân the utmost care and concern. This is no more evident than in the care

that they showed in the interpretation of the Qur’ân.

The efforts of the Companions in interpreting and explaining the Qur’ân

The Companions were very concerned with the correct understanding of the Qur’ân.

Some of them became well known for their knowledge in this area, having devoted their

lives to this endeavor. The following Companions are the most notable among them:

`Abd Allah b. `Abbâs. He was known as Hibr al-Ummah (Scribe of the Muslim Nation)

and Tarjumân al-Qur’ân (Interpretor of the Qur’ân). He was the foremost of all the

commentators of the Qur’ân. The Prophet (peace be upon him) had made the following

supplication on his behalf: “O Allah, give him understanding of the religion and teach

him the interpretation of the Qur’ân.” 5

Numerous statements regarding the commentary and interpretation of Qur’ânic verses

have been related from him. He was one of the four people who had compiled the entire

Qur’ân together during the Prophet’s lifetime and he was one of the most important

reciters of the Qur’ân from among the Companions.

`Abd Allah b. Mas`ûd. The Prophet (peace be upon him) had said: “Take the Qur’ân

from four people: Ibn Mas`ûd, Mu`âdh b. Jabal, Ubayy b. Ka`b, and Sâlim the ward of

Abû Hudhayfah.” 6

`Abd Allah b. Mas`ûd said: “I swear by Allah; indeed I have taken from the lips of

Allah’s Messenger over seventy chapters of the Qur’ân. And by Allah, the Companions

know that I am among the most knowledgeable among them concerning Allah’s book,

though I am not the best of them.”

The person who related this statement of Ibn Mas`ûd follows it with the following

comment: “I sat in study circles and listened to what the people were saying and never

heard anyone respond by saying anything to the contrary.” 7

`Abd Allah b. Mas`ûd also said: “I swear by Allah besides whom there is no other God;

no verse of Allah’s Book has been revealed except that I know the circumstances in

5 Sahîh al-Bukhârî (143) and Sahîh Muslim (2477).

6 Sahîh Muslim (2464).

7 Sahîh al-Bukhârî (5000) and Sahîh Muslim (2462).

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