Addressing Aberrations in the Exegesis and Jurisprudence of Islam: Responding to Islamism

By Leslie Terebessy

The Book of Allah is "the truth from your Lord." The Book presents itself as "clear," "complete" and "free of contradictions." But traditionists, as they use reason sparingly, portray the Book of Allah differently. They say that the Book of Allah is in parts "unclear," "insufficiently detailed" and "contradictory." These mischaracterizations ascribe traits of persons to Allah. They portray the Book as the work of a person. These mischaracterizations do not just contradict the Book; they reject parts of the Book. They speak as if its Author was "blurred," "forgetful," and "confused" when He revealed the allegedly "unclear," "incomplete," and "contradictory" parts of the Book. Characterizing the Book of Allah as in parts "unclear," "insufficiently detailed" and "contradictory" entails rejecting or kufr in all verses that teach the contrary. These mischaracterizations of the Book of Allah also presuppose the rejection of verses according to which the Book is inimitable. This is a further expression of kufr. After besmirching the Book of Allah and reviling its Author, traditionists propose to "assist" Allah by "clarifying" and providing "details" allegedly "missing" from the Book. This "assistance" would be provided by recourse to books of traditions. They justify the turn to tradition to "clarify" and "detail" revelation by the assertion that tradition is also "revelation." The boldness of this assertions is remarkable. Furthermore, to resolve the alleged "contradictions" in the Book, traditionists assert that verses revealed earlier are abrogated by contradictory verses revealed subsequently. However, recourse to the "abrogation" of the "verses of reconciliation" by the "verse of the sword" is tantamount to kufr. For it entails rejecting all "abrogated" verses. Furthermore, rejecting any verses entails tampering with the teaching of revelation. Recourse to the teaching of abrogation also requires the rejection of verses according to which we will "never find a change in the words of Allah." For the "abrogation" of a verse presupposes a "change" in "the words of Allah." Accordingly, "traditional" exegesis rests upon several - six to be precise - categories of kufr. This renders traditional exegesis problematic. For exegesis that rejects any verses of the Book of Allah will corrupt the knowledge of revelation. The turn from revelation to tradition, assisted by the treatment of tradition as revelation, enabled by the repression of reason, also entails the perpetration of shirk. The first expression of shirk is reflected in the treatment of tradition as revelation, as "equal to" or even a "part of" revelation. This perception treats the utterings of persons as "equal" to the words of Allah. A second expression of shirk is reflected in the subordination of revelation to tradition. This is palpable in the perception of tradition as a "judge" of revelation. The treatment of tradition as a "judge" of revelation reverses the relationship between revelation and tradition. The third expression of shirk is found in the practice of "abrogating" revealed rulings by rulings from traditions. This is tantamount to shirk as it empowers the transmitters of traditions to "abrogate" the rulings of Allah. The fourth expression of shirk is reflected in the "abrogation" of revealed rulings by rulings of the ulama. This practice reflects shirk because ulama "abrogate" different rulings of Allah. The fifth expression of shirk transpires when revealed rulings are replaced by rulings from traditions. This transpired with rulings on apostasy and adultery. The sixth expression of shirk takes place when rulings of scholars replace revealed rulings. The rulings of scholars are treated as possessing the authority to replace the rulings of Allah. Thus, traditionalist exegesis and jurisprudence are compromised by six expressions of kufr and shirk each. This renders traditionalist exegesis and jurisprudence problematic.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0BCD5113P
• ISBN13: 9798848935264
• Release Date: August 2022
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 286 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.0" x 9.0"