Intermediate
Quranic Sciences
Surah: Al-Isra (9)
Tafsir and Ta'wil — A Fundamental Distinction
إِنَّ هَٰذَا ٱلۡقُرۡءَانَ يَهۡدِي لِلَّتِي هِيَ أَقۡوَمُ
— الإسراء الآية 9
Tafsir: Uncovering the verse's apparent intended meaning through language rules, Sharia, and context.
Ta'wil: Directing a word to a possible meaning requiring evidence — broader, less certain than tafsir.
Conditions for correct tafsir: By the Quran itself, by authentic Sunnah, by companions and their followers, by reliable Arabic language.
Ta'wil: Directing a word to a possible meaning requiring evidence — broader, less certain than tafsir.
Conditions for correct tafsir: By the Quran itself, by authentic Sunnah, by companions and their followers, by reliable Arabic language.
Source: Ibn Taymiyya, Introduction to Tafsir; Al-Zarkashi (2/148)
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