- The Holy Quran is a book of guidance, but this book needs a teacher and an interpreter. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) introduced his Ahl al-Bayt as teachers and interpreters of the Qur'an after himself.
Quran and AhlulBayt
Quran Needs an Interpreter:
The Holy Qur'an is the book of guidance and its world of knowledge is like a boundless ocean that anyone thirsty for guidance can drink from it to quench their thirst and find the way to salvation. This matter is mentioned in several verses of the Qur'an, including verse 185 of Surah Al-Baqarah; “...the Qur'an was sent down as guidance to mankind, with manifest proofs of guidance and the Criterion”.[1]
But the Qur'an also has verses that anyone cannot understand the correct meaning and interpretation just by referring to it. These verses are mentioned in the name of "allegorical" (Mutashabih) verses in the Qur'an. Verse 7 of Surah Al-Imran says: “He it is Who has revealed the Book to you; some of its verses are decisive, they are the basis of the Book, and others are allegorical”.[2] The continuation of the same verse says: “but none knows its interpretation except Allah, and those who are firmly rooted in knowledge...”.[3] No one knows the correct interpretation of it except those who are well versed in knowledge.
Verse 44 of Surah Nahl has introduced the beloved Prophet of Islam as a “firmly rooted in knowledge”, a teacher and an interpreter of the Qur'an: “We have revealed this Qur'an to you so that you may explain to the people what has been revealed to them...”. [4]
Since the Qur'an is a book of guidance for all ages and generations, and on the other hand, this book of guidance needs a teacher and an interpreter so that its meanings are not manipulated and distorted by profiteers and worldly power seekers, the Prophet after him, introduced his Ahl al-Bayt to the people as interpreters of the Qur'an.
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[1] Quran (2 - 185) الَّذِي أُنْزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ هُدًى لِلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَاتٍ مِنَ الْهُدَى وَالْفُرْقَانِ...
[2] Quran: [3–7] هُوَ الَّذِي أَنْزَلَ عَلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ مِنْهُ آيَاتٌ مُحْكَمَاتٌ هُنَّ أُمُّ الْكِتَابِ وَأُخَرُ مُتَشَابِهَاتٌ
[3] Ibid: وَمَا يَعْلَمُ تَأْوِيلَهُ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَالرَّاسِخُونَ فِي الْعِلْمِ
[4] Quran [16–44] وَأَنْزَلْنَا إِلَيْكَ الذِّكْرَ لِتُبَيِّنَ لِلنَّاسِ مَا نُزِّلَ إِلَيْهِمْ وَلَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ