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The Quran Answers False Assessments of the Quran: Lack of Expertise in Qur'anic Interpretation Techniques

Contents
  1. Introduction
  2. Prejudice, Ulterior Motives and Lack of Sincerity
  3. Confusing Intricate (Mutashabih) Verses With Perspicuous (Muhkam) Ones
  4. Lack of Expertise in Qur'anic Interpretation Techniques
  5. Insufficient Knowledge of Arabic
  6. The Absence of God-Given Wisdom and Understanding
  7. Lack of Thinking
  8. Arrogance and Superiority
  9. Trying to Interpret the Qur'an with Old Traditions
  10. Inability to Understand the Scientific Qur'anic Verses
  11. Trying to Interpret the Qur'an According to the Flawed Values of the Established Order
  12. Wine-drinking in Heaven
  13. Another Incorrect Interpretation on the Subject of Wine
  14. The Claim that "Pork Produced Under the Strict Hygienic Surroundings of Today May Be Consumed"
  15. Seeing the Anecdotes in the Qur'an as Fables
  16. The Assumption That the Qur'an is a Copy or Imitation of Other Holy Books
  17. Incompatibilities and Differences
  18. The Misinterpretation of the Term "We," Which God Uses in Reference to Himself
  19. Failing to Understand the Examples Given in the Qur'an
  20. Failing to Understand the Repetitions in the Qur'an
  21. Failing to Understand the Style of the Qur'an
  22. The Subject of Creation in Six Days
  23. The Speculation About Noah's Flood
  24. Conclusion

The Qur'an is a miraculous Book that contains all of the essential information mankind needs. This is due to the endless divine wisdom present in it. A finite number of verses contain infinite knowledge that has been placed in them with superior wisdom. The verses contain meanings that may be apparent, hidden, inter-woven or overlapping. They also produce countless other meanings when they interact with other verses. There are times when a single verse can take a whole book to explain. That is why, in order to be able to interpret the Qur'an correctly and take in all of its contents, one must be capable of grasping it in its entirety and must also be skilled in all the required interpretation techniques.

One significant technique consists of analyzing a verse according to its context in the Qur'an. The meaning of a Qur'anic verse can often be explained according to the theme around it. The way a verse begins and those verses which follow it help to clarify its meaning. This topic is referred to in Islamic literature as the verse's "Sibaq u Siyaq" or "the whole context of a word". This is the reason why many of the verses can be misinterpreted if they are taken out and translated only in terms of the words they consist of and without any regard to their entire context. Such misinterpretation of the Qur'anic verses throughout history, whether due to ignorance or perverted intent, has resulted in misunderstanding of the Qur'an, and certain groups with ulterior motives have even slandered it.

Another important method is to interpret the words that make up the verses by taking their context in that particular verse into consideration. Much Qur'anic vocabulary has specially intended meanings. The meaning of one Qur'anic word often derives from the way it is used in another part of the Qur'an. Time and again a word can have more than one meaning. So the meaning of such a word is to be deduced from the manner in which it is used in a different section of the Qur'an. Just looking the word up in a dictionary and applying the first meaning we come across can result in an extremely inaccurate interpretation; and sometimes, the interpretation that results can even be the opposite of the true meaning. One can see from this that the Qur'an is self-explanatory. The explanation of one verse can sometimes be hidden in the meaning of another verse or verses.

Another important rule in the interpretation of the Qur'an is to fully grasp its essence. In order to do that, one has to see it as a whole. Furthermore, it should be explained in the light of the many verses which reflect the infinite mercy, compassion and justice of God.

Since the Qur'an is a divine book it is quite unlike any other book and should never be compared to them. The Qur'an has a unique style. One has to grasp the overall style along with its underlying essence to do justice to the explanations, particularly when reading the "intricate" verses. It is important to adopt a wider perspective and cover the intensely spiritual aspects of the Qur'an to be able to properly understand the various facts revealed by God.