HOW TO UNDERSTAND QURAN THROUGH QURAN ITSELF?

Why should we Always should Read Quran, research and try to understand it with Word-by-Word Translation and Not Through Any Tafseer, or Mafhom or exposition?

A translation will be considered as a word from GOD ALMIGHTY, only if the translation is written without the influence of any preconceived ideas of the narrator; it should include complete due diligence, with the absolute consideration of logic, sense, justice, reasoning, HAQ (as both absolute truth and Utmost Justice), and proper adoption of the right meanings in place of every single Quranic- word. As soon as we use our own words and statements as explanation of Quranic words (in any exposition, or mafhom or tafseer) it means we are trying to push the reader to think in our way. However, we are supposed to give word by word translation to the reader. We can choose best possible translation for each Quranic Word through vocabulary/lughat but we should not push the reader to think in our way. Imagine we, as writers, use brackets and insert our own word as per our own opinions, how are we sure that, this is the best possible opinion one can form out of that particular Quranic Ayah? We must give a fair chance to the reader to explore and understand Quran as per their own specific situation, intellect and capacity.

When, as writers of Tafseer, or Mafhom or Explosition, we add our own words as explanation for the Quranic ayahs, the statement becomes our own opinion i.e. the opinion of the writer about that particular ayah. It does not remain the word of Allah anymore. Sooner any word or statement is added as a means of explanation of the ayah, the HAQ is changed and now it not the Allah’s word- its now our opinion as the writer of Tafseer, or Mafhom or Explosition.

We need to keep in mind, a truth can only remain a truth when there is no change in it i.e. No addition, no amendment, no deletion whatsoever. The writer can always explain his/her views in separate paragraphs but not as a translation of the Quaranic ayah itself in the same para. Mixing his/her own words with Quranic words, is like changing the words of Allah. We can get many examples in Quran where an ayah needs more elaboration and explanation, but still, it does not justify to manipulate a reader’s mind. We have to chose best possible substitute word available in the translated language as is applicable to that ayah’s context or we can choose to let the Quranic word as is. We can add 2nd paragraphs to explain the ayah in our opinion, but we must let reader talk to the Quran- not to us. After giving word by word translation, if we have to further explain it, we should give our opinions in a separate paragraph.

In ALL the expositions, Mafhoms and Tafseer; the writer adds his/her own conceptual words in the translation which compromise the actual word by word translation concept and the actual Quranic Guidance. When Readers rely on these expositions and mafhom, its like they have placed a wall between actual Quranic guidance and the reader thereby restricting/blocking the reader from the true Quranic guidance. Each and every one of us has the duty to pick up Quran, read it, understand it by ourselves and implement it as it applies to us, to our very specific situation and environment. Rather than relying on tafseer, exposition or mafhom, It is our bare minimum duty as Muslims to spend time to understand Quran. Otherwise, we would be reading the person who has written the tafseer or mafhom or exposition, not the Quran itself. It’s not the GOD’s word, its not the Quranic Ayah.

When you Pick up Quran to understand, what should you do?

When you pick word for word translations, you have to spend time to understand each and every word and ayah. Many words in the translation may have to be changed back to the original Qur’anic words in order to get better understanding of these words through Quranic dictionary and picking up the best suitable meaning which suits best for that particular ayah and its context. However, by learning Quran through word by word translation and then thinking and reflecting on the ayahs along with keeping in mind the whole context of that ayah, this whole process, this methodology will make you understand the true Quranic guidance. In order to understand this process more, please refer to our series “How to Understand Quranic Ayahs”- a 3 part videos in both English and Urdu Languages.

Difference between Kitaab and Quran

Keep in mind the difference between “Al-Kitaab’- the book and ‘Al-Quran’- the Quran. Even reading Quran in Arabic is just a book if the reader is simply reading the book. It will become Quran only when the words of Allah; the word of the Book; the hidayah, the commandments and the teachings starts landing on the heart and mind of the reader, then and only then the book becomes the Quran.

Quran is NOT for ONLY for Arabs or Arabic Language experts

Quran is not only for those who understand Arabic or who are Arabic language experts, Quran is for the whole humanity, for people of all races, languages, geographical locations and for all generations to come until the end of time. And anyone can understand Quran through Quran itself. When Allah says in Quran “we have made Quran Simple for Zikr” i.e. Quran has been made simple and easy to understand and follow; then who are we as normal Muslims to reject or deny this very clear Quranic Ayahs?

Some people believe that we have to learn Arabic in order to understand Quran or that one can not understand Quran without Knowing the Arabic language.

Disadvantages of being an Arabic Language Speaker

Contrary to what people normally believe, if someone is an Arabic speaking, one of the disadvantages of knowing Arabic as our mother tongue while reading Quran is that; we tend to use whatever meanings of the Arabic word we use in our day to day life. Since they (Arabs) are under the impression that they know the Arabic, therefore they don’t need to pick up Lughat (Quranic Dictionary). Whereas, (a) the Quranic vocabulary is much different than the spoken Arabic nowadays and (b) there are many words which are used in Quran in many different ways and meanings, whereas in usual day to day use, the Arabic language utilizes only couple of these meanings. For instance, consider the word ‘Raham’ which is normally translated as ‘Mercy’ or the word “Na’mat” normally translated as ‘Blessings’, whereas both these words have many different meanings and need to be applied based on the context and use of the word in any particular ayah. Hence when we do not pick up the lughat, even as an Arabic Speaking expert, we can make mistakes, and misinterpret ayah.

Advantages of being a Non-Arabic Language Speaker

For Non-Arabs, or those who are not Arabic Language speaking experts, there is a phenomenon of learning any 2nd language. Our mother tongues, i.e. our 1st language we are born with, has solid imprints on our brain. Whenever we try to learn any other language, for example Arabic, our brain translates Arabic words into the meanings in our mother language in order to enable us to understand and speak Arabic. We always have to memorize meanings of Arabic words, and it is not possible to memorize whole Quranic Arabic Lughat or vocabulary. We can remember only a few meanings of one single Arabic word. That means even after knowing Arabic we will still need lughat (Quranic dictionary) for root words and more vocabulary. Otherwise, we might miss the actual meaning of the word for that particular Quranic Ayah. One of the disadvantages of having learned Arabic as 2nd language during reading Quran is that we get lazy and whatever meanings of an Arabic word we can remember we use only that meaning. We never approach lughat for more vocabulary for the best suitable meaning and we can therefore make mistakes, and misinterpret ayah. If we pick 5 major translations of any well known Alims, we will find different ways of translations of the same words or ayahs in many surahs.

How is Quran Simple?

Rather than following and believing what others believe or what most Muslims practice; its way more important to believe what ALLAH says in QURAN about Quran- that is, Quran is EASY, COMPLETE, NOTHING IS MISSING, for EVERYONE, FURQAN, NOOR-E-MUBEEN and HAQ. Therefore, we must fulfill our personal responsibility as Muslims towards Quran by trying to understand Quran through Quran.

The ayahs in Quran are very simple and clear if we take word by word translation of each Quranic ayah. Every one has to check few ayahs before and few ayahs after that particular ayah in order to understand context of the ayah. This is how to learn Quran by Quran Itself instead of reading someone else’s opinion in the form of exposition or mafhom or tafseer; let Allah talk to the reader HIMSELF. There is a possibility that a reader may understand Quran way better than us. It is GOD ALMIGHTY who gives hidayah; We all try our best!

If we want to Understand Quran- Step by Step Guide!

If anyone wants to understand Quran, definitely it requires efforts, consistency, time, pure heart and mind, thinking & pondering. Pick any translation, not tafseer as tafseer drags our minds towards preconceived ideas and opinions of the writer. Translation, on the other hand, gives us only a general idea about the phrase. Check few ayahs before that particular ayah and few ayahs after that particular ayah, in order to understand and establish the whole context in which that ayah appears in Quran. Then follow the broad and general rules as follows in order to understand the ayah;

Quran is talking to us, every ayah applies to us, in one way or another. It doesn’t matter what was the actual scenario when that ayah was revealed 1400 years ago. This Quran is for all the humanity, for people of all locations, races, languages and for all times to come and the whole Quran is FARD upon us.
Logic and sense must reflect in the understanding of the ayah as Quran itself highlights that times and times again ‘do not fall upon my ayahs deaf dumb and blind’ but use your God given faculties including your intellect and reasoning in order to understand Quran.
Whatever understanding we get from any Ayah, we need to check it from other ayahs as there should not be any contradiction of one ayah concept with any other ayah. There is no contradiction in Quran at all. We must check other ayahs in Quran on the same topic as well, to make sure whatever we understand from these ayahs are consistent with the Quranic guidance without any contradiction whatsoever.
Justice and Haq must reflect in the understanding of the ayah. Deen is Haq as in justice at it’s best, as per God’s solid judicial principles. There is no concept of any injustice in Deen.
The understanding of the ayah we develop must be satisfactory to our mind & heart, without any influence of any preconceived ideas or preconceived concepts. We need to make sure that whenever we approach Quran, it is not to confirm the pre-existing ideas and concepts but to treat Quran as Furqan – the ultimate criteria of right and wrong. And that can only work out well when we are open to accept any outcome from that ayah, even if that is contrary to what we have been told by our forefathers or those around us. We need to approach Quran with complete open mind and without any preconceived ideas and concepts.
Use LUGHAT – Quranic Dictionary for meanings of some particular word in that ayah in order to find the best possible fit of the meaning for any particular ayah, keeping in mind the context and all the rules as above I.e. based on haq, justice, logic and sense. If any meaning does not make sense, then research on the vocabulary yourself…the haqq, the Deen’s basic parameters, justice and logic should be the focus.

Conclusion

The KEY is to spend time on Quran, 2 or 3 hours on one single ayah- use logic and reasoning- based on utmost justice and HAQ, look for the context of the ayah with few ayahs before and after that particular ayah, establish its addressing topic & context, use lughat for more vocabulary, utilize your God-given faculties including thinking and intellect, consult other Quranic ayahs on that particular topic to make sure there is no contradiction between them. At times we may need to spend not just 2 or 3 hours, may be even 2 or 3 days on one single ayah in order to understand it. But do keep in mind this is the HAQ I.e. the due right of Quran and what we owe to Quran, as our bare minimum responsibility, as a Muslim.

MAY GOD GIVE US HIDAYAH.

In terms of how we understand Quran by Quran itself, you can

Read through this presentation in PDF- click here How to Understand Quran from Quran itself

WQT

How to Understand Quran BY Quran Itself