The Quran Verse of the Week
[Gabriel said],‘We only descend [with revelation] at your Lord’s command––everything before us, everything behind us, everything in between, all belongs to Him––your Lord is never forgetful. (19:64)
[Note continuing from yesterday’s post, normally, when doing tafsir, my next preferred step after finding the reason(s) for revelation for a verse is to use said reason(s) to locate it in a greater historical context. Unfortunately I am unable to locate the incident given in the Asbab Al-Nuzul literature in any of the major biographies of the Prophet, such as Ibn Ishaq’s, Tabari’s, or Ibn Saad’s. So for this week we will skip to the next step, and jump straight into tafsir.]
The Most Authoritative Form of Tafsir: Tafsir of the Quran by the Quran
Quite often themes and ideas are repeated in the Quran. This method of tafsir takes advantage of this and uses one occurrence of an idea or theme in one place to further elaborate on its mention in another verse. To put it another way:
“The best way to interpret the Qur’ān is by the Qur’ān. For what is elliptical (ujmila) in one place is explained more fully in another and what is in summary form in one place is expounded in another.”
–Ibn Taymiyya, Muqaddima, 93a
Some General Examples of Tafsir of the Quran by the Quran
Example 1. When Was The Quran Sent Down?
“truly We sent it [the Quran] down on a blessed night––We have always sent warnings––“ (44:3)
This verse talks about the sending of the Quran, but what night exactly is the blessed night that it was sent down?
Verse 97:1 has the answer: “We sent it down on the Night of Glory.” (97:1)
From these two verse we can conclude that the Quran was sent down on the blessed Lailat al-Qadr (translated above as the Night of Glory).
Example 2. How Severe are Hardships?
“Do you suppose that you will enter the Garden without first having suffered like those before you? They were afflicted by misfortune and hardship, and they were so shaken that even [their] messenger and the believers with him cried, ‘When will God’s help arrive?’ Truly, God’s help is near.” (2:214)
This verse was revealed about the Battle of the Trench and the hardships faced by the Muslims then. From this incident it puts forth the notion that life, even for, no, especially for the righteous is filled with hardships and tests. How bad can this suffering get? According to this verse so bad that even the people’s messenger cried out. But exactly how bad is this?
Verse 2:286 offers an answer: “God does not burden any soul with more than it can bear: each gains whatever good it has done, and suffers its bad” (2:286)
Interpreting these verses together we can reach the following comforting conclusion: We are going to suffer in this life, if we hope to reach the Garden. Even those closest to God, the prophets suffered, so if it is true for them it is more so true for us. Even with this however, God tells us that though we may face trials, it will not be more than we can handle, and even then God’s help is near.
Tafsir of Quran 19:64 by the Quran
“your Lord has not forsaken you [Prophet], nor does He hate you,” (93:3)
In this verse we can see that the Prophet, like in verse 19:64, is troubled by an extended pause in revelation. Interpreting these verses through one another we can come to the conclusion that the revelation only comes when God is ready to send it, and though it may take a long time, it does not mean He had forgotten, forsaken, or that He hated the Prophet.
“‘those who took their religion for distraction, a mere game, and were deluded by worldly life.’ Today We shall ignore them, just as they have ignored their meeting with this Day and denied Our Revelations.” (7:51)
In this verse, God is talking about ignoring people, as they had ignored Him previously. Interpreting this verse through 19:64, we can deduce that on the Day of Judgement, God will ignore those people for what they had done. To those people it may seem like God has forgotten them, as the ignored may sometimes believe is the case with the one who ignores, yet God reminds them in 19:64, “Your Lord is never forgetful.”
“Moses said, ‘My Lord alone has knowledge of them, all in a record; my Lord does not err or forget.’” (20:52)
In this verse Moses expands on the idea that “Your Lord is never forgetful.” Not only does He not forget, which is an err, He does not err in other regard. Not only does He never forget, but He has knowledge of all things.
Perspectives Of A Fellow Traveler 