The Additions of the Followers in the Interpretation of Imam Al-Tabari, "An Applied Study on Surat Al-Mumatahinah"

Abstract

The research deals with the subject of the followers’ additions in the interpretation of Imam Al-Tabari through an applied study on Surat Al-Mumtahinah. It aims at highlighting their role and efforts in the interpretation of the words of Allah the Almighty, and what new meanings they added to it, as well as displaying the opinions of the followers in the interpretation of the Holy Qur'an, clarifying their approaches in its interpretation, stressing their role in their era. Moreover, the research aims to show up what was transmitted from the followers with authentic chains of transmission in the interpretation of the Noble Qur’an and refuting the false statements attributed to them.

The study relied on the analytical inductive method, and the research reached a number of results, the most important of which are:

1/ The sciences of the additions of the followers in the interpretation takes care of collecting the additions of traces in the interpretation of the followers, may God have mercy on them, of verses which were not mentioned in the hadiths of the Prophet, may God’s prayers and peace be upon him, or from the companions, may God be pleased with them all. Thus, it is an affluent science that have enriched the books of interpretation with various impressions in clarifying meanings, as "Jaami'u Albayaan" of Imam Muhammad bin Jarir Al-Tabari, who collected approximately (62) traces in Surat Al-Mumtahinah. The followers’ additions in interpretation are mostly of various sorts; they either weigh opinions to one meaning as interpretation with partial meaning, interpretation with an example, interpretation with necessity, interpretation of meaning with close words, or the multiple depictions of the same name, or interpretation with more than one meaning that the verse can bear.

2/ The efforts of the followers were not limited to the science of interpretation only, but their impact appeared in various shari'ah sciences that are indispensable, such as jurisprudence and its roots, hadith and its sciences, the principles of faith, language, its vocabulary and rhetoric of all kinds.

3/ The comparison between the statements of the followers in the interpretation of Qur’anic verses contributed to the knowledge of their approaches in interpreting the words of God and clarifying His intentions.