The Holy Prophet's Authority to Interpret the Holy Quran.

The Holy Prophet's Authority to Interpret the Holy Quran.

The authority given to the Holy Prophet (Prophet sallallahu alihi wassalam) is the authority to interpret and explain the Holy Book. He is the final authority in the intciprctation of the Holy Quran. The Holy Quran says:

And We sent down towards you the Advice * (i.e. the Quran) so that you may explain to the people what has been sent down to them and. so that they may ponder (1 6:44).

It is unequivocally established here that the basic function of the Holy (Prophet sallallahu alihi wassalam)is to explain the Holy Book and to interpret the revelation sent down to him. It is obvious that the Arabs of Makkah, who were directly addressed by the Holy Prophet (Prophet sallallahu alihi wassalam) did not need any translation of die Quranic text. The Holy Quran was revealed in their own mother tongue. Despite that they were mostly illiterate, they had a command on their language and' literature. Their beautiful poetry, their eloquent speeches and their impressive dialogues are the basic sources of richness in the Arabic literature* They needed no one lo leach them the literal meaning of the Quranic Text That they understood the textual meaning is beyond any doubt.
It is thus obvious that die explanation entrusted to the Holy Prophet life was something more than the literal meaning of the Book. It was an explanation of what Allah Almighty intended, including all the implications involved and the details needed. These details arc also received by the Holy Prophet (Prophet sallallahu alihi wassalam) through the unrcciicd revelation. As discussed earlier, the Holy Quran has clearly said.

Then, it is on Us to explain it (75:19)

This verse is self-explanatory on the subject. Allah Almighty has Himself assured the Holy Prophet (Prophet sallallahu alihi wassalam) that He shall explain the Book to him. So, whatever explanation the Holy Prophet gives to the Book is based on the explanation of Allah Himself. So, his intcrprction of the Holy Quran overrides all the possible interpretations Hence, he is the final authority in the exegesis and interpretation, of the Holy Quran. His word is the last word in this behalf.

Examples of Prophetic explanations of the Quran

To be more specific, 1 would give a few concrete instances of the explanations of the Holy Book given to us by the Holy Prophet (Prophet sallallahu alihi wassalam). These examples will also show the drastic amount of what we lose if we ignore the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (Prophet sallallahu alihi wassalam) :
I. The salah (prayer) is the well-known way of worship which is undisputedly held as the first pillar of Islam after having faith. The Holy Quran has ordered more than 73 times to observe it. Despite this large number of verses giving direct command to observe the Salah, there is no verse in the entire Book to explain how to perform and observe it. Some components of the salah* like ruku' (bowing down) or sujud (Prostration) or Qiyam (standing) arc f no doubt, mentioned in the Holy Quran. But the complete way to perform salah as a composite whole has never been explained. It is only through the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (Prophet sallallahu alihi wassalam) that we learn the exact way to pcrfom it. If the Sunnah is ignored, all these details about the correct way of observing salah arc totally lost. Not only this, nobody can bring forth an alternate way to perform salah on the basis of the Holy Quran alone. It is significant that the Holy Quran has repeated the command of observing salah as many as 73 limes, yet, it has elected not to describe the way it had to be performed. This is not without some wisdom behind it. The point that seems to have been made declibrately is one of the significance of the Sunnah. By avoiding the details about no less a pillar of Islam than salah, it is pointed out thay the Holy Quran is meant for giving the fundamental principles only. The details arc left to the explanations of the Holy Prophet (Prophet sallallahu alihi wassalam).
2. Morcover, it is mentioned in the Holy Quran that the'salah is tied up with some prescribed limes. Allah Almighty says:

Surely, the salah is a timed obligation for the belivers.(4:l04)

It is clear from this verse that there are some particular times in which the salah should be performed. Bui what arc those times is nowhere mentioned in the Holy Quran. Even that the daily obligatory prayers arc five in number is never disclosed in the Holy Book. It is only through the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet^ that wc have learnt the exact number and the specific times of the obligatory prayers.
3. The same is the position of the number of Rak'at to be performed in each prayer. it is not mentioned anywhere in the Holy Quran that the number of Rak'at is two in Fajr, four in Zuhr, Asr and Isha; it is only in the Sunnah that these matters are mentioned.If the Sunnah is not believed, ail these necessary details even about the first pillar of Islam remain totally unknown, so asto render the salah too vague an obligation to be carried out in practice.
4. The same is the cose of Zakah (alnis giving), the second pillar of Islam, which is in most cases combined with the Salah in the Holy Quran. The order to 'pay zakah' is found in the Holy Book in more than thirty places. But who is liable to pay it ? On what rate it should be paid? What assets arc liable to the obligation of Zakah? What assets are exempted from it? All these questions remain unanswered if the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet^; is ignored. It is the Holy Prophet jsjp who explained all these details about zakah.
5. Fasts of Ramadan arc held to be the third pillar of Islam.Here again only the fundamental principles arc found in the Holy Quran. Most of the necessary details have been left to the explanation of the Holy Prophet 4§> which he disclosed through his sayings and acts. What acts, other than eating, drinking and having sex, arc prohibited or permitted during the fast? Under what conditions can one break the fast during the day? What kind of treatment can be undenaken in the state of fasting? All these and similar oilier details are mentioned by the Holy Prophet (Prophet sallallahu alihi wassalam).
6.The Holy Quran has said after mentioning how to perform wudu, ( ablution ):

And if you arc junub ( defiled ) well-purify yourself (5:6)

It is also clarified in the Holy Quran that while hc'mgjunub (defiled) one should not perform prayers (4:43), But the definition ofjuniib ( defiled ) is nowhere given in the Holy Quran nor is it mentioned how should a defiled person 'well-purify' himself Ii is the Holy Prophet (Prophet sallallahu alihi wassalam) who has explained all these questions and laid down the detailed injunctions on die subject.
7. The command of the Holy Quran concerning Hajj, the fourth pillar of Islam, is in the following words:

And as a right of Allah, it is obligatory on people to perform the Hajj of the House - whoever has the ability to manage his way to it. (3 : 97)

It is just not disclosed here as to how many times the Hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah) is obligatory? The Holy Prophet(Prophet sallallahu alihi wassalam) explained that the obligation is discharged by performing Hajj only once in a life- time.
8. The Holy Quran says:

Those who accumulate gold and silver and do not spend them in the way of Allah, give them ihc good news of a painful punishment (9:34)

Here, "accumulation" is prohibited and 'spending' is enjoined. But the quantum of none of the two is explained. Upto what limit can one save his money, and how much spending is obligatory? Both the questions arc left to the explanation of the Holy Prophet (Prophet sallallahu alihi wassalam) who has laid down the detailed rules in this respect.
9. The Holy Quran, while describing the list of the women of prohibited degree, with whom one cannot marry, has extended the prohibition to marrying two sisters in one Lime:

And (it is also prohibited) to combine two sisters together (4:23)

The Holy Prophet (Prophet sallallahu alihi wassalam). while explaining this verse, clarified that the prohibition is not restricted lo two sisters only. The verse has, instead, laid down a principle which includes the prohibition of combining an aunt and her niece, paicmal or maternal, as well.
10. The Holy Quran says:

Today the good tilings have been permitted to you. (5:5)

Here 'the good things' arc not explained. The detailed list of the lawful 'good things' has only been given by the Holy Prophet (Prophet sallallahu alihi wassalam) who has described the different kinds of food being not lawful for the Muslims and not falling in the category of 'good things'. Had there been no such explanation given by the Holy Prophet (Prophet sallallahu alihi wassalam). everybody could interpret the 'good things' according to his own personal desires, and the very purpose of the revelation, namely, to draw a clear distinction between good and bad, could have been disturbed. If everybody was free to determine what is good and what is bad, neither any revelation nor a messenger was called for. It was through both the Holy Book and the Messenger (Prophet sallallahu alihi wassalam). that the need was ful filled Numerous other examples or this nature may be cited. But the few examples given above arc, perhaps, quite sufficient lo show the nature of the explanations given by the Holy Prophet (Prophet sallallahu alihi wassalam) as well as lo establish their necessity in the framework of an Islamic life ordained by the Holy Quran for its followers.