B i s m i l l a a h i r R a h m a a n i r R a h e e m
Guidelines for Understanding the Qur`aan
Part 3 - 3
Understanding the Qur`aan
The Context is Crucial
By Ayub A. Hamid
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The Context is Crucial
Along with the language and grammar, context is a crucial determinant of the meaning. Whether it is the context of a word within a sentence, the sentence within a paragraph or a paragraph within a chapter, every context has a significant bearing on the meaning of a word. For example, see how the context determines the meaning of the word 'duck' in the following sentence:
While looking at the different cloth samples, he really liked one of them and exclaimed, 'this duck is lovely' and ordered 100 meters for his sewing shop.
These crude examples are being used just to demonstrate the point that the context can have a major impact on the meaning of a word or sentence, hence it must be considered for deriving the meaning. When it comes to the Qur-aan, however, many people take its verses out of context and derive meanings from them that are not warranted when considered within the context. They think that because every word of the Qur-aan is true and valid, we should be able to apply it in every situation without considering its context. This is not the right approach. Considering the significance of the context and the widespread disregard for it, this point will be explained in greater detail.
The Holy Qur-aan was compiled in an order different from the order of the revelation on the instructions of its author, Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala. With every revelation, the Prophet, Sall Allaahu`alayhi wa sallam was instructed as to the exact order and location of the newly revealed verses or Soorah. The Prophet, Sall Allaahu`alayhi wa sallam would dictate to the scribes in that order and recite it in the daily Salaah in that order. Thus the Qur-aan is not a collection of unrelated miscellaneous verses that have been randomly assembled. Otherwise, it would have been compiled in the order of revelation. The specific order to the verses that Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala Himself gave cannot be without purpose, wisdom and profound reason.
Keeping in view that Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala Himself directed the compilation of verses in a certain order in a Soorah and Soorahs in a certain order in the Qur-aan, Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala has Himself provided every verse and every Soorah its appropriate context. Thus, the context becomes even more important for the Qur-aan in determining the meaning of a verse of a group of verses than for a segment of any human literature. In fact, it is one of the most important factors in determining the intent and the meaning of any segment of the Holy Qur-aan for yet another reason. Context is one of the tools used for the miraculous brevity of the Qur-aan that amazed and mesmerized the Arabs with its literary excellence. The Holy Qur-aan uses context of the words, phrases and sentences in a very sophisticated manner to deliver a lot of meaning with fewest possible words by putting significant reliance on context to convey the message properly. Thus, to understand the Holy Qur-aan properly, its phrases and sentences should never be taken in isolation of its context. When deriving the meaning of a word, phrase or verse of the Qur-aan, the intended meaning must be put in context and reviewed to ensure that it fits properly with the verses before and the verses after to give a coherent message and that it appropriately relates to the subject mater being discussed at that point in the Qur-aan. It absolutely unacceptable to take any verse out of context and make it mean whatever one likes. A meaning derived without considering the context might be invalid.
Similarly, the author you rely on for helping you in the understanding of the Qur-aan must be conscious of the context of a verse or a Soorah. A Tafseer or translation composed with this perspective will explicitly indicate the relationship of parts of the Qur-aan to other parts.
Those who study the Qur-aan keeping the order and context in mind soon realize the fact that the order of the Qur-aan is in fact an order of miraculous coherence and flow. Every verse of the Qur-aan fits like a gem in its place. Every verse of a chapter is in profound relationship to the verse before and after it. In the same manner, every section and every Soorah has a strong relationship in meaning and theme to the section and the Soorah before it and after it. In turn, the Soorahs are divided into seven groups, each group with its own main theme. Within groups, each Soorah is paired with another Soorah that complements its central idea and presents it from a different angle. Every group has an evolutionary relationship to the other groups preceding and succeeding it. Each group starts with one or more Makkan Soorah(s) and ends with one or more Madani Soorah(s).
The description of relationships, coherence and flow of the verses, sections and Soorahs belongs in the detailed commentary and exegesis (Tafseer) of the Qur-aan. Amin Ahsan Islaahi has done a wonderful job in his Tafseer "Tadabburul Qur-aan" explaining these relationships. On the basis of his work, an overview of the arrangements of Soorahs (Chapter) into seven groups and relationships of Soorahs within first two groups will be presented in the next few paragraphs to show the reader a glimpse of the wisdom in the arrangement of the text of the Qur-aan. While reflecting on the relationships described below and on the other points already mentioned about this topic, think about how a series of revelations occurring over a 23 year period organized in a totally different order than the order of their revelation ended up to be an extremely meaningful and coherent whole. It is humanly impossible for a person to develop a thought in one way and arrange it in another way still making perfect sense, especially for an unlettered man going through the toughest circumstances a human can ever go through. This is another aspect of the Qur-aan that presents evidence that it is the Word of and revelation from Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala.
"And you (O Muhammad!) were not able to recite a book before it (the Qur-aan), and nor were you able to transcribe (write) with your hand. If it were so, the perpetrators of falsehood would have an excuse to doubt." (Al-Ankaboot 29:48)
Next: Seven Groups of Soorahs of the Qur`aan
The First Group
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Copyright © 2004-2006 Ayub A. Hamid
All rights reserved
This document may be used only with this copyright notice included. Permission is granted to circulate among private individuals and groups, to post on internet forums, and include in not-for-profit publications subject to the following conditions: (1) Material used must be produced faithfully in full, without alteration or omission; (2) The author's subject title must remain unchanged, in whole or in part; (3) Material must be attributed to the author Ustaadz Ayub A. Hamid.
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Note: The quotations of the Qur-aan provided in the above article is not a literal translation. Instead of literal translation, it gives interpretive meanings of the verses, along with their contextual details. Please remember that any translation of the Holy Qur-aan is in fact only an expression of the translator's understanding of the Word of Allaah
Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala, and hence cannot be equated with the Qur-aan itself. Only the original Arabic text can be called the Holy Qur`aan.
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DDN members can read the previous installments of the "Guidelines for Understanding the Qur`aan" series at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DDN/files/Understanding%20the%20Qur%60aan%20by%20Ayub%20A.%20Hamid/
Part 1: Prologue
Part 2: Approaching the Qur`aan
Part 3-1: The Qur`aan is in the Language of the Quraish
Part 3-2: The Basic Rules of Grammar and Literature
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