Allegorical Interpretation of the Qur'an

I. Is Allegorical Interpretaion (Ta'wil) of the Qur'an Permitted?
 
003.007 He is it Who hath revealed unto thee (Muhammad) the Scripture wherein are clear revelations---They are the substance of the Book---and others which are allegorical. But those in whose hearts is doubt pursue, forsooth, that which is allegorical seeking (to cause) dissension by seeking to explain it. None knoweth its explanation save Allah[.] [A]nd those who are of sound instruction[. They] say, We believe therein, the whole is from our Lord, but only men of understanding really heed.

هو الذي أنزل عليك الكتاب منه آيات محكمات هن ام الكتاب واخر متشابهات واما الذين في قلولهم زيغ فيتبعون ما تشابه منه ابتغاء الفتنة وابتغاء تأويله وما يعلم تأويله الا الله والراسخون في العلم يقولون آمنا به كل من عند ربنا وما يذكر إلا اولو الالباب.

II. Do God's Attributes Impair His Unity?
 
God's Unity
 
020.014 Lo! I, even I, am Allah, There is no God save Me. So serve Me and establish worship for My remembrance.

انني انا الله لااله الا انا فاعبدني واقم الصلاة لذكري.

004.116 Lo! Allah pardoneth not that partners should be ascribed unto Him. He pardoneth all save that to whom He will. Whoso ascribeth partners unto Allah hath wandered far astray.

ان الله لايغفر ان يشرك به ويغفر مادون ذلك لمن يشاء ومن يشرك بالله فقد ضل ضلالا بعيدا.

005.072 They surely disbelieve who say: Lo! Allah is the Messiah, son of Mary. The Messiah (himself) said: O Children of Israel, worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord. Lo! whoso ascribeth partners unto Allah, for him Allah hath forbidden paradise. His abode is the Fire. For evil-doers there will be no helpers.

لقد كفر الذين قالوا ان الله هو المسيح ابن مريم وقال المسيح يابني اسرائيل اعبدوا الله ربي وربكم انه من يشرك بالله فقد حرم الله عليه الجنة وماواه النار وما للظالمين من انصار.

005.073 They surely disbelieve who say: Lo! Allah is the third of three; when there is no God save the One God. If they desist not from so saying a painful doom will fall on those of them who disbelieve.

لقد كفر الذين قالوا ان الله ثالث ثلاثة ومامن اله الا اله واحد وان لم ينتهوا عما يقولون ليمسن الذين كفروا منهم عذاب اليم.

023.091 Allah hath not chosen any son, nor is there any god along with Him; else would each god have assuredly championed that which he created, and some of them would assuredly have overcome others. Glorified be Allah above all that they allege.

مااتخذ الله من ولد وماكان معه من اله اذا لذهب كل اله بما خلق ولعلا بعضهم على بعض سبحان الله عما يصفون.

God's Power
 
002.284 Unto Allah (belongeth) whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in the earth; and whether ye make known what is in your minds or hide it, Allah will bring you to account for it. He will forgive whom He will and He will punish whom He will. Allah is Able to do all things.

لله مافي السماوات ومافي الارض وان تبدوا مافي انفسكم او تخفوه يحاسبكم به الله فيغفر لمن يشاء ويعذب من يشاء والله على كل شئ قدير.

God's Life
 
002.255 Allah! There is no God save Him, the Alive, the Eternal. Neither slumber nor sleep overtaketh Him. Unto Him belongeth whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in the earth. Who is he that intercedeth with Him save by His leave? He knoweth that which is in front of them and that which is behind them, while they encompass nothing of His knowledge save what He will. His throne includeth the heavens and the earth, and He is never weary of preserving them. He is the Sublime, the Tremendous.

الله لااله الا هوالحي القيوم لاتاخذه سنة ولانوم له مافي السماوات ومافي الارض من ذا الذي يشفع عنده الا باذنه يعلم مابين ايديهم وماخلفهم ولايحيطون بشئ من علمه الا بما شاء وسع كرسيه السماوات والارض ولايؤوده حفظهما وهو العلي العظيم.

God's Will
 
085.016 Doer of what He will.

فعال لما يريد.

God's Knowledge
 
004.166 But Allah (Himself) testifieth concerning that which He hath revealed unto thee; in His knowledge hath He revealed it; and the angels also testify. And Allah is sufficient Witness.

لكن الله يشهد بما انزل اليك انزله بعلمه والملائكة يشهدون وكفى بالله شهيدا.

035.011 Allah created you from dust, then from a little fluid, then He made you pairs (the male and female). No female beareth or bringeth forth save with His knowledge. And no one groweth old who groweth old, nor is aught lessened of his life, but it is recorded in a Book, Lo! that is easy for Allah.

والله خلقكم من تراب ثم من نطفة ثم جعلكم ازواجا وماتحمل من انثى ولاتضع الا بعلمه ومايعمر من معمر ولاينقص من عمره الا في كتاب ان ذلك على الله يسير.

God's Speech
 
042.051 And it was not (vouchsafed) to any mortal that Allah should speak to him unless (it be) by revelation or from behind a veil, or (that) He sendeth a messenger to reveal what He will by His leave. Lo! He is Exalted, Wise.

وماكان لبشر ان يكلمه الله الا وحيا او من وراء حجاب او يرسل رسولا فيوحي باذنه ما يشاء انه على حكيم.

004.164 And messengers We have mentioned unto thee before and messengers We have not mentioned unto thee; and Allah spake directly unto Moses.

ورسلا قد قصصناهم عليك من قبل ورسلا لم نقصصهم عليك وكلم الله موسى تكليما.

002.253 Of those messengers, some of whom We have caused to excel others, and of whom there are some unto whom Allah spake, while some of them He exalted (above others) in degree; and We gave Jesus, son of Mary, clear proofs (of Allah's Sovereignty) and We supported him with the holy Spirit. And if Allah had so willed it, those who followed after them would not have fought one with another after the clear proofs had come unto them. But they differed, some of them believing and some disbelieving. And if Allah had so willed it, they would not have fought one with another; but Allah doeth what He will.

تلك الرسل فضلنا بعضهم على بعض منهم من كلم الله ورفع بعضهم درجات واتينا عيسى ابن مريم البينات وايدناه بروح القدس ولو شاء الله مااقتتل الذين من بعدهم من بعد ماجاءتهم البينات ولكن اختلفوا فمنهم من امن ومنهم من كفر ولو شاء الله مااقتتلوا ولكن الله يفعل مايريد.

007.144 He said: O Moses! I have preferred thee above mankind by My messages and by My speaking (unto thee). So hold that which I have given thee, and be among the thankful.

قال ياموسى اني اصطفيتك على الناس برسالاتي وبكلامي فخذ ما اتيتك وكن من الشاكرين.

III. Does God have Anthropomorphic Attributes or is He is not Like Anything Else?
 
God's Hand
 
005.064 The Jews say: Allah's hand is fettered. Their hands are fettered and they are accursed for saying so. Nay, but both His hands are spread out wide in bounty. He bestoweth as He will. That which hath been revealed unto thee from thy Lord is certain to increase the contumacy and disbelief of many of them, and We have cast among them enmity and hatred till the Day of Resurrection. As often as they light a fire for war, Allah extinguisheth it. Their effort is for corruption in the land, and Allah loveth not corrupters.

وقالت اليهود يد الله مغلولة غلت ايديهم ولعنوا بما قالوا بل يداه مبسوطتان ينفق كيف يشاء وليزيدن كثيرا منهم ماانزل اليك من ربك طغيانا وكفرا والقينا بينهم العداوة والبغضاء الى يوم القيامة كلما اوقدوا نارا للحرب اطفا ها الله ويسعون في الارض فسادا والله لايحب المفسدين.

023.088 Say: In Whose hand is the dominion over all things and He protecteth, while against Him there is no protection, if ye have knowledge?

قل من بيده ملكوت كل شئ وهو يجير ولايجار عليه ان كنتم تعلمون {023.088}

036.083 Therefor Glory be to Him in Whose hand is the dominion over all things! Unto Him ye will be brought back.

فسبحان الذي بيده ملكوت كل شئ واليه ترجعون.

God's Eyes
 
011.037 Build the ship under Our eyes and by Our inspiration, and speak not unto Me on behalf of those who do wrong. Lo! they will be drowned.

واصنع الفلك باعيننا ووحينا ولاتخاطبني في الذين ظلموا انهم مغرقون.

God's Face (Countenance) 002.115 Unto Allah belong the East and the West, and whithersoever ye turn, there is Allah's Countenance. Lo! Allah is All-Embracing, All-Knowing.

ولله المشرق والمغرب فاينما تولوا فثم وجه الله ان الله واسع عليم.

028.088 And cry not unto any other god along with Allah. There is no God save Him. Everything will perish save His countenance. His is the command, and unto Him ye will be brought back.

ولاتدع مع الله الها اخر لااله الا هو كل شئ هالك الا وجهه له الحكم واليه ترجعون.

002.272 The guiding of them is not thy duty (O Muhammad), but Allah guideth whom He will. And whatsoever good thing ye spend, it is for yourselves, when ye spend not save in search of Allah's Countenance; and whatsoever good thing ye spend, it will be repaid to you in full, and ye will not be wronged.

ليس عليك هداهم ولكن الله يهدي من يشاء وماتنفقوا من خير فلانفسكم وماتنفقون الا ابتغاء وجه الله وماتنفقوا من خير يوف اليكم وانتم لاتظلمون.

God's Unlikeness to Anything
 
042.011 The Creator of the heavens and the earth. He hath made for you pairs of yourselves, and of the cattle also pairs, whereby He multiplieth you. Naught is as His likeness; and He is the Hearer, the Seer.

فاطر السماوات والارض جعل لكم من انفسكم ازواجا ومن الانعام ازواجا يذرؤكم فيه ليس كمثله شئ وهو السميع البصير.

IV. Is the Vision of God Possible?
 
075.022 That day will faces be resplendent,
 
075.023 Looking toward their Lord.

وجوه يومئذ ناضرة الى ربها ناظرة.

006.103 Vision comprehendeth Him not, but He comprehendeth (all) vision. He is the Subtile, the Aware.

لاتدركه الابصار وهو يدرك الابصار وهو اللطيف الخبير .

007.143 And when Moses came to Our appointed tryst and his Lord had spoken unto him, he said: My Lord! Show me (Thy Self), that I may gaze upon Thee. He said: Thou wilt not see Me, but gaze upon the mountain! If it stand still in its place, then thou wilt see Me. And when his Lord revealed (His) glory to the mountain He sent it crashing down. And Moses fell down senseless. And when he woke he said: Glory unto Thee! I turn unto Thee repentant, and I am the first of (true) believers.

ولما جاء موسى لميقاتنا وكلمه ربه قال رب ارني انظر اليك قال لن تراني ولكن انظر الى الجبل فان استقر مكانه فسوف تراني فلما تجلى ربه للجبل جعله دكا وخر موسى صعقا فلما افاق قال سبحانك تبت اليك وانا اول المؤمنين.

V. Is God in a Position or a Place?
 
God's Place}
 
067.016 Have ye taken security from Him Who is in the heaven that He will not cause the earth to swallow you when lo! it is convulsed?
 
067.017 Or have ye taken security from Him Who is in the heaven that He will not let loose on you a hurricane? But ye shall know the manner of My warning.

ءامنتم من في السماء ان يخسف بكم الارض فاذا هي تمور .
 
ام امنتم من في السماء ان يرسل عليكم حاصبا فستعلمون كيف نذير .

God's Throne
 
020.005 The Beneficent One, Who is established on the Throne.

الرحمن على العرش استوى.

057.004 He it is Who created the heavens and the earth in six Days; then He mounted the Throne. He knoweth all that entereth the earth and all that emergeth therefrom and all that cometh down from the sky and all that ascendeth therein; and He is with you wheresoever ye may be. And Allah is Seer of what ye do.

هو الذي خلق السماوات والارض في ستة ايام ثم استوى على العرش يعلم مايلج في الارض و مايخرج منها وماينزل من السماء ومايعرج فيها وهو معكم اين ماكنتم والله بما تعملون بصير.

God's Movement
 
089.022 And thy Lord shall come with angels, rank on rank,

وجاء ربك والملك صفا صفا.

002.210 Wait they for naught else than that Allah should come unto them in the shadows of the clouds with the angels? Then the case would be already judged. All cases go back to Allah (for judgment).

هل ينظرون الا ان ياتيهم الله في ظلل من الغمام والملائكة وقضى الامر والى الله ترجع الامور.

VI. God's Justice
 
Man's Free Will
 
018.029 Say: (It is) the truth from the Lord of you (all). Then whosoever will, let him believe, and whosoever will, let him disbelieve. Lo! We have prepared for disbelievers Fire. Its tent encloseth them. If they ask for showers, they will be showered with water like to molten lead which burneth the faces. Calamitous the drink and ill the resting-place!

وقل الحق من ربكم فمن شاء فليؤمن ومن شاء فليكفر انا اعتدنا للظالمين نارا احاط بهم سرادقها وان يستغيثوا يغاثوا بماء كالمهل يشوي الوجوه بئس الشراب وساءت مرتفقا.

018.030 Lo! as for those who believe and do good works - Lo! We suffer not the reward of one whose work is goodly to be lost.

ان الذين امنوا وعملوا الصالحات انا لانضيع اجر من احسن عملا .

004.118 Whom Allah cursed, and he said: Surely I will take of Thy bondmen an appointed portion, 004.119 And surely I will lead them astray and surely I will arouse desires in them, and surely I will command them and they will cut the cattle's ears, and surely I will command them and they will change Allah's creation. Whoso chooseth Satan for a patron instead of Allah is verily a loser and his loss is manifest.

لعنه الله وقال لاتخذن من عبادك نصيبا مفروضا ولاضلنهم ولامنينهم ولامرنهم فليبتكن اذان الانعام ولامرنهم فليغيرن خلق الله ومن ي تخذ الشيطان وليا من دون الله فقد خسر خسرانا مبينا .

004.123 It will not be in accordance with your desires, nor the desires of the People of the Scripture. He who doeth wrong will have the recompense thereof, and will not find against Allah any protecting friend or helper.

ليس بامانيكم ولا اماني اهل الكتاب من يعمل سوءا يجز به ولايجد له من دون الله وليا ولانصيرا .

004.124 And whoso doeth good works, whether of male or female, and he (or she) is a believer, such will enter paradise and they will not be wronged the dint in a date-stone.

ومن يعمل من الصالحات من ذكر او انثى وهو مؤمن فاولئك يدخلون الجنة ولايظلمون نقيرا .

021.047 And We set a just balance for the Day of Resurrection so that no soul is wronged in aught. Though it be of the weight of a grain of mustard seed, We bring it. And We suffice for reckoners.

ونضع الموازين القسط ليوم القيامة فلاتظلم نفس شيئا وان كان مثقال حبة من خردل اتينا بها وكفى بنا حاسبين .

036.054 This day no soul is wronged in aught; nor are ye requited aught save what ye used to do.

فاليوم لاتظلم نفس شيئا ولاتجزون الا ماكنتم تعملون.

God's Determination
 
016.093 Had Allah willed He could have made you (all) one nation, but He sendeth whom He will astray and guideth whom He will, and ye will indeed be asked of what ye used to do.

ولو شاء الله لجعلكم امة واحدة ولكن يضل من يشاء ويهدي من يشاء ولتسألن عما كنتم تعملون.

010.099 And if thy Lord willed, all who are in the earth would have believed together. Wouldst thou (Muhammad) compel men until they are believers?

ولو شاء ربك لامن من في الارض كلهم جميعا افانت تكره الناس حتى يكونوا مؤمنين.

010.100 It is not for any soul to believe save by the permission of Allah. He hath set uncleanness upon those who have no sense.

وماكان لنفس ان تؤمن الا باذن الله ويجعل الرجس على الذين لايعقلون.

024.021 O ye who believe! Follow not the footsteps of the devil. Unto whomsoever followeth the footsteps of the devil, lo! he commandeth filthiness and wrong. Had it not been for the grace of Allah and His mercy unto you, not one of you would ever have grown pure. But Allah causeth whom He will to grow. And Allah is Hearer, Knower.

ياايها الذين امنوا لاتتبعوا خطوات الشيطان ومن يتبع خطوات الشيطان فانه يامر بالفحشاء والمنكر ولولا فضل الله عليكم ورحمته مازكى منكم من احد ابدا ولكن الله يزكي من يشاء والله سميع عليم.

006.125 And whomsoever it is Allah's will to guide, He expandeth his bosom unto the Surrender, and whomsoever it is His Will to send astray, He maketh his bosom close and narrow as if he were engaged in sheer ascent. Thus Allah layeth ignominy up on those who believe not.

فمن يرد الله ان يهديه يشرح صدره للاسلام ومن يرد ان يضله يجعل صدره ضيقا حرجا كانما يصعد في السماء كذلك يجعل الله الرجس على الذين لايؤمنون.

006.111 And though We should send down the angels unto them, and the dead should speak unto them, and We should gather against them all things in array, they would not believe unless Allah so willed. Howbeit, most of them are ignorant.

ولو اننا نزلنا اليهم الملائكة وكلمهم الموتى وحشرنا عليهم كل شئ قبلا ما كانوا ليؤمنوا الا ان يشاء الله ولكن اكثرهم يجهلون .

006.107 Had Allah willed, they had not been idolatrous. We have not set thee as a keeper over them, nor art thou responsible for them.

ولو شاء الله مااشركوا وماجعلناك عليهم حفيظا وماانت عليهم بوكيل.