Understanding Islam — Page 125
123 an excellent criterion for evaluating the truth. Unless a person is endowed with this quality and treads on the narrow path which the Prophets as have tread, it is only prudent that he should refrain from impertinently and arrogantly assuming the role of a commentator of the Holy Quran. Otherwise his commentary will be based upon his own inference, and this is something which the Holy Prophet sa has forbidden. He has said 8 : ! َ # ْ a & َ ' ّ َ ) َ a ا + ْ , ُ ) آ ن َ a 0 ِ ) َ أ 3 ِ 4 a & َ 5 َ 6 َ 5 ب َ a & َ , َ 8 ْ a ا َ 9 ْ : َ 5 َ That is, he who interprets the Holy Quran based on his own inference, does an erroneous interpretation even though he thinks he has done well. The fifth criterion is the Arabic lexicon. Since, the Holy Quran itself has provided sufficient means for its understanding, recourse to Arabic lexicon seems unnecessary. But there is no doubt that it helps in enhancing our understanding, and sometimes, when we consult the lexicon, our attention is drawn to some hidden subtleties of the Holy Quran and we discover some mystery.