Exploring Quranic Guidance: Legal Interpretation, Pillars of Islam

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In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate
Three More Questions Regarding the Qur’an
By Dr. Mohammad Akram Nadwi, Oxford

🟢 Question 4:

“The Qur’anic text is not written in the form of legal clauses where every matter is explicitly explained. Although matters of halal and haram are clear, many necessary issues require derivation from the Qur’an. Deriving these rulings is not without the possibility of error. If this is the case, why do followers of a particular school of thought claim with such certainty that their beliefs derived from the Qur’an are 100% correct while labeling others’ beliefs and rulings as 100% wrong, and that too with extreme boldness and shouting?”

🟢 Answer 4:

The Qur’an is not a book of law but rather a book of guidance. Legal writings do not aim to educate or morally train; rather, their purpose is to protect societal and governmental values. The spread of moral values and the reform of society lie outside the scope of law. When a society becomes overly reliant on legal systems, the essence of values gradually fades, and people start to see the purpose of law not as a means to become good citizens but merely as something to avoid punishment.

This same scenario occurred in Islam. When the Qur’an and Sunnah were sidelined, and Fiqh was given central importance, the “Book of Tricks” (Kitab al-Hiyal) was expanded, with scholars dissecting issues to an extreme degree. An example of this is the current “Islamic Finance,” where interest is made acceptable in Muslim societies through loopholes.

Most of the detailed rules in Fiqh are not mentioned in the Qur’an. The number of obligations, the number of Sunnah, and the Mustahabbat (recommended acts) of prayer are not explicitly stated in the divine book. These are all human derivations. Just as there are differences in other intellectual sciences, there are significant differences among the Mujtahid Imams and Fiqh scholars on derived rulings.

Differences in these derived rulings are natural. No Mujtahid’s derivation holds superiority over another’s. This understanding was clear in the early generations, which is why the learned scholars respected each other’s views and benefited from each other’s priorities.

Later, schools of thought (Madhhabs) became prevalent, replacing religion in some cases. Instead of referring to the Qur’an and Sunnah, people began relying on books of their schools of thought. The derived opinions of scholars were treated as sacred, and based on these opinions, others were declared misguided or disbelievers. Worse still, this narrow-mindedness gave rise to new sectarian divisions. In the past, there were groups like the Ahl al-Sunnah, Shia, Khawarij, Murji’ah, and Mu’tazilah. Later, within Ahl al-Sunnah, there arose divisions such as Ash’aris, Maturidis, and Ahl al-Hadith. In the Indian subcontinent, this division produced so many subgroups that it’s hard to count them. All of this sectarianism has only harmed Islam and the Muslim community.

🟢 Question 5:

“Why is it that the detailed explanations of Islam’s fundamental pillars, such as prayer, fasting, Hajj, and Zakat, are not found in the Qur’an? The Qur’an does not specify how to pray, how to perform Hajj, or how much Zakat to give. On the other hand, certain matters are repeated several times in the Qur’an, such as the commands related to these pillars.”

🟢 Answer 5:

The Qur’an is a clear book (Kitabun Mubeen) that comprehensively outlines the principles and generalities of guidance and instruction. The Qur’an provides a complete description of prayer, fasting, Hajj, and Zakat to the extent necessary. Since we have become accustomed to the detailed arrangements found in books of Fiqh, we tend to spend our lives without becoming familiar with the Qur’an. We fail to understand the wisdom in the Qur’an’s method of explanation and do not attempt to learn how to pray or give Zakat from the Qur’an.

The core reason for the decline of Muslims is their neglect of the divine book. Consider why the Qur’an sometimes refers to prayer as “remembrance,” sometimes as “gratitude,” and sometimes as “piety” and “excellence.” Why has humility (khushu’) been emphasized so much in prayer, along with repentance and obedience? Why is the method of ablution clearly described in one place, while the most important pillar of religion, prayer, is explained in various ways?

The answer lies in freeing ourselves from the rigid details and arrangements of Fiqh and deeply reflecting on the divine wisdom in how Allah has structured the guidance. Currently, I am writing a Tafsir (exegesis) of the Qur’an, and afterward, I will, God willing, write in detail on topics such as “The Prayer of the Qur’an” and “The Zakat of the Qur’an.” May Allah grant us success in good deeds.

🟢 Question 6:

“Polygamy is proven from the Qur’an and Sunnah and has been the practice of all the prophets, companions, and even the generation after them. However, the past was a time of low human population, and it was a tribal era where having a large family or tribe was considered a source of power. Today, the world’s population has increased significantly, and power now comes from science and technology, not the number of people. So, isn’t monogamy a better option today, especially since the Qur’an seems to support monogamy in certain cases? Why, then, do some scholars continue to promote and encourage polygamy?”

🟢 Answer 6:

The answer to this question requires more than just an article or a booklet; it demands an entire book. However, for now, I’ll provide a brief response.

Keep in mind that Allah is the Lord of the universe, and creation and sustenance fall under His Lordship. We are His creation and His complete slaves. This slavery is our honor. The further we advance in this servitude, the more honorable we become and the closer we are to Allah. Questions like how many humans should exist, how much sustenance should they receive, when population growth should stop, or when to halt childbirth are all matters for the Creator and Owner of everything. It is folly for us to concern ourselves with or give opinions on these matters.

It is true that one of the fundamental benefits of polygamy is procreation. However, there is also a secondary benefit, which is the preservation of chastity and purity. There are many women who remain unmarried, and many men have strong desires. Polygamy easily resolves this issue; otherwise, the consequences are the spread of immorality and mental illness, which are rapidly engulfing the world.