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

By Leslie Terebessy

The Book of Allah presents itself as "the truth from your Lord," and as "clear," "complete" and "free of contradictions." But traditionists describe the Book of Allah differently. They present the Book as partly "unclear," "insufficiently detailed" and "contradictory." They portray the Book as a work of a person who is at times "blurred," "forgetful," and "confused." Referring to the Book of Allah as "unclear," "insufficiently detailed" and "contradictory" contradicts what the Book teaches. After tarnishing the Book, traditionists propose to "clarify" and provide "details missing" from the Book. The "clarification" and "detailing" would be provided by tradition. Traditionists justify the turn to tradition by the assertion that tradition, too, is "revelation." The boldness of this assertions is remarkable. To reconcile the "contradictions" in the Book, traditionists assert that all "contradictory" verses revealed earlier were abrogated by verses revealed afterwards. However, recourse to the teaching of "abrogation" is problematic, as it entails rejecting all "abrogated" verses, which is an expression of kufr. Furthermore, rejecting even one verse entails tampering with the teaching of revelation. Recourse to the teaching of abrogation, unfortunately, also requires rejecting all verses which teach that 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 on kufr. This renders traditionalist exegesis problematic. The turn from revelation to tradition also entails different manifestations 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. This renders them problematic. These problems were triggered by treating tradition as "revelation from God," the repression of reason, the subordination of revelation to tradition, and recourse to the teaching of abrogation. Reliance upon exegesis that refrains from using reason separated the umma from the Book of Allah. It did it by making it harder for the umma to understand and follow revelation. The subordination of revelation to tradition also corrupted the penal code. Punishments based on traditions "abrogated" and "replaced" revealed punishments. This applied particularly to punishments for apostasy and adultery. But to enforce a punishment different from the punishment prescribed by Allah is to transgress the limits of Allah. It is to ensure the perpetration of injustice and turn penal legislation into a license for the perpetration of crime rather than protection from it. It defeats the purpose of the penal code to protect the umma and ensure public safety.

• 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"