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UNDERSTANDING THE QUR'AN

Salam

8/4/17

A very important explanation about the authenticity of the source of information in Qur'an tafsirs.

Muslimfootsteps.com

Our main guidance on this was derived from Ibn Kathir (Stories of the Prophets), who is one of the most prolific scholars of early Islam, and sources from the Qur'an and the Sunnah and other publications. Be that as it may, there were certain sources which could not be authenticated through Qur'an and Sunnah. For example, the account of Nabi Ya'qub (RA) contained in that publication, was mostly based on Israelite sources, which is why we did not have a separate article on him.

In respect of Nabi Yahya (AS), sources from Qur'an and Hadith have been cited. However, there are other details as well, which are from Israelite sources. The rule for this is as follows. If the Israelite sources contradict with Islam, Qur'an and Sunnah, then we are to reject it entirely. If it is in conformity with Qur'an and Sunnah, we are to accept it. If it is not supported by Qur'an and Sunnah, but does not contradict the values of Islam, Qur'an and Sunnah, then the rule is that we are to neither reject nor accept it. Hence, in our articles, where the source comes from this third category, we are mindful not to cite any reference in Qur'an and Sunnah, but rather to say that it is said by some people.

This is the principle you should also adopt - so for facts that fall within this category, you should explain that there is no Qur'an or Sunnah on this, but since the Israeli narrations do not contradict the principles, then people are free to accept it or not. However we cannot say that those accounts are absolutely right or absolutely wrong, only Allah knows best.

Please also note that there were Jewish people who embraced Islam during the time of Rasulullah SAW, and that these scriptures were probably discussed during his time, with some of them totally rejected (as stated also in the Qur'an).

Please note, that this rule of interpretation does not apply to matters of fiqh or regulation, for these, we are to rely only on Qur'an and Sunnah, and if not available, then to the fatwa of the Muslim scholars which are obtained by general consensus. For matters of fiqh, which has implications on halal, haram and even the way we perform our Islamic rituals, we cannot rely on Israelite accounts at all. We must rely only on Qur'an, Sunnah and our religious scholars.

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