Quran Interpretation and Debate

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يُحَرَّمُ الْمِرَاءُ فِي الْقُرْآنِ وَالْجِدَالُ فِيهِ بِغَيْرِ حَقٍّ

Argumentation in the Quran and disputing it without right is prohibited.

فمن ذلك أن يظهر فيه دلالة الآية على شئ يخالف مذهبه

Among those cases is when the verse clearly indicates something contrary to his school of thought.

وَيَحْتَمِلُ اِحْتِمَالًا ضَعِيفًا مُوَافَقَةَ مَذْهَبِهِ

Yet it bears a weak possibility of agreeing with his school of thought.

فَيَحْمِلُهَا عَلَى مَذْهَبِهِ وَيُنَاظِرُ عَلَى ذَٰلِكَ مَعَ ظُهُورِهَا فِي خِلَافٍ مَا يَقُولُ

So he interprets it according to his school of thought and debates on that basis, despite its clarity against what he says.

وَأَمَّا مَنْ لَا يَظْهَرُ لَهُ ذَٰلِكَ فَهُوَ مَعْذُورٌ

As for one to whom this is not apparent, he is excused.

وَأَمَّا تَفْسِيرُهُ لِلْعُلَمَاءِ فَجَائِزٌ حَسَنٌ وَالْإِجْمَاعُ مُنْعَقِدٌ عَلَيْهِ

As for interpretation by the scholars, it is permissible and good, and the consensus is settled upon it.

فَمَنْ كَانَ أَهْلًا لِلتَّفْسِيرِ جَامِعًا لِلْأَدَوَاتِ حَتَّى الَّتِي يُعْرَفُ بِهَا مَعْنَاهُ وَغَلَبَ عَلَى ظَنِّهِ الْمُرَادُ فَسَّرَهُ

So whoever is qualified for interpretation, possessing the tools to know its meanings, and his opinion is predominantly correct, he interprets it.

إِنْ كَانَ مِمَّا يُدْرَكُ بِالِاجْتِهَادِ كَالْمَعَانِي وَالْأَحْكَامِ الْجَلِيَّةِ وَالْخَفِيَّةِ وَالْعُمُومِ وَالْخُصُوصِ وَالْإِعْرَابِ وَغَيْرِ ذَٰلِكَ

If it is something reachable through juristic effort, like clear and hidden meanings, general and specific rulings, grammar, and the like.

وَإِنْ كَانَ مِمَّا لَا يُدْرَكُ بِالِاجْتِهَادِ كَالْأُمُورِ الَّتِي طَرِيقُهَا النَّقْلُ وَتَفْسِيرُ الْأَلْفَاظِ اللُّغَوِيَّةِ فَلَا يَجُوزُ الْكَلَامُ فِيهِ إِلَّا بِنَقْلٍ صَحِيحٍ مِنْ جِهَةِ الْمُعْتَمَدِينَ مِنْ أَهْلِهِ

And if it is not reachable through juristic effort, like matters of transmission and linguistic interpretation, then speaking on it is not allowed except with authentic transmission from trusted authorities.

وَأَمَّا مَنْ كَانَ لَيْسَ مِنْ أَهْلِهِ لِكَوْنِهِ غَيْرَ جَامِعٍ لِأَدَوَاتِهِ فَحَرَامٌ عَلَيْهِ التَّفْسِيرُ لَكِنَّ لَهُ أَنْ يَنْقُلَ التَّفْسِيرَ عَنِ الْمُعْتَمَدِينَ مِنْ أَهْلِهِ

As for those who are not its experts due to lack of tools, it is forbidden for them to interpret, but they can convey interpretation from trusted sources.