Qur'an: Literal or Metaphoric

[gnostic]

Do you think a majority of Muslims interpret the Qur'an LITERALLY or METAPHORICALLY?

Or do Muslims do both interpretations? Can you possibly do both? (Give an example or two, where it can be interpret both literally and metaphorically.)

Was the Qur'an written to be literal or not?

Note that this very last question above, is different to the other questions before the last one. The last one was how the Qur'an written, and the earlier questions about how MUSLIMS would INTERPRET the Qur'an. They are not the same things, so please answer the questions accordingly.

 

[InvestigateTruth]

Was the Qur'an written to be literal or not?

I will only answer this Question.

Some of its verses are clear and some are figurative:



"He it is Who hath revealed unto thee (Muhammad) the Scripture wherein are clear revelations - they are the substance of the Book - and others (which are) allegorical...." Quran 3:7

Example of Clear verses, is the Laws of shariah, such as fasting.​

Examples of allegorical, according to Rumi, who was known as an inspired Moslem, is the story of Four Birds and Prophet Abraham:​

So, Rumi sits and ponders. The ayat from Al Baqarah (The Cow), QS:2:260 says: “Behold! Abraham said: “My Lord! Show me how Thou givest life to the dead.” He said: “Dost thou not then believe?” He said: “Yea! but to satisfy My own undertaking.” He said: “Take four birds; Tame them to turn to thee; put a portion of them on every hill and call to them: They will come to thee (Flying) with speed. Then know that Allah is Exalted in Power, Wise.”​

Then, Rumi interprets and writes:

O you who are the Abraham of the age,

kill these four birds that beset the Way,
since, crow-like, they pluck out the eye of the intellect of the intelligent.
Human beings harbour four heart oppressing qualities.
That resemble Abraham’s four birds:
Slaughtering them in the name of God allows the soul to ascend.
Since the body is where these four qualities nest,
They are called the four mischief-makers.
If you want human beings to attain to eternal life,
Then cut off the heads of these four loathsome and evil birds,
And then bring them back to life,
Transformed into another sort,
So that afterwards they will do no harm.
The four formless birds that beset the Way have made their nest
in the hearts of human beings.
These are the duck, the peacock, the crow and the rooster:
They are allegories for the four pernicious qualities in human beings.
The duck is greed.
The rooster is lust.
The peacock is superiority.
And the crow is worldly desire.
(taken from John Baldock’ s The Essential of Rumi).
The Four Birds « The Path to The Source​

So, the meaning is that if we kill four bad qualities: greed lust superiority and worldly desire, instead we attain to eternal spiritual life, because after killing the bad qualities, good qualities become Live in us.

 

[gnostic]

I have not read Rumi, though I know that YmirGF like and know his work(s).

I can see that some of the text or verses can be taken as metaphor or even simile, like when Qur'an referred to the Sun as a lamp...though it would be considered poetic, it is actually inaccurate description of the Sun.

One of the major concerns (actually the concern is mine) is the use of the word HEAVEN, because it can have a number of totally different context. To me, if heaven doesn't mean God's abode or Paradise, then HEAVEN would mean the SKY or one of the other names given to the sky, such as FIRMAMENT, EXPANSE. Heaven doesn't necessarily mean (deep) space or the universe, which are modern contexts, not the original or ancient contexts of heaven.

 

[InvestigateTruth]

Yes, Heaven can have different meaning. The Sun, Moon and stars also can have different meanings.

For example it is said in Surah 37:

6. Verily! We have adorned the near heaven with the stars.
7. And to guard against every rebellious devil.

In this context Heaven means religion of Islam. The stars means the chosen ones of God, the saints.


"Among those writings are the following words recorded in the “Prayer of Nudbih”(a Muslim prayer): “Whither are gone the resplendent Suns? Whereunto have departed those shining Moons and sparkling Stars?” Thus, it hath become evident that the terms “sun,” “moon,” and “stars” primarily signify the Prophets of God, the saints, and their companions, those Luminaries, the light of Whose knowledge hath shed illumination upon the worlds of the visible and the invisible." -Baha'u'llah


Or Qur’án 82:1 it is said: “When the heaven shall be cloven asunder."

"By “heaven” is meant the heaven of divine Revelation, which is elevated with every Manifestation, and rent asunder with every subsequent one. By “cloven asunder” is meant that the former Dispensation is superseded and annulled." - Baha'u'llah


“Muhammad, the Seal of the Prophets, and the most distinguished of God’s chosen Ones, hath likened the Dispensation of the Qur’án unto heaven, by reason of its loftiness, its paramount influence, its majesty, and the fact that it comprehendeth all religions. And as the sun and moon constitute the brightest and most prominent luminaries in the heavens, similarly in the heaven of the religion of God two shining orbs have been ordained—fasting and prayer. ‘Islám is heaven; fasting is its sun, prayer, its moon.’” - Baha'u'llah

 

[F0uad]

You should ask this on a Dir i am not sure how someone from the Bahai community can answer for the muslims but heck i have seen stranger things on this forum.

 

[sandandfoam]

I think there is more truth to be gleaned from metaphoric thought than literalism.

 

[Pastek]

Do you think a majority of Muslims interpret the Qur'an LITERALLY or METAPHORICALLY?

Most of time it's literal.

 

[OurCreed]

It depends on the context of the verse(s).

 

[seeking4truth]

It depends on the feeling, knowledge, intellect and spiritual status of the reader.

The Quran is for everyone and everyone can gain new things from it everytime it is read.

 

[Assad91]

Both.

There are strit literal interpretations used by Zahiri and Salafis. These interpretations are usually flawed. Like the Salafis who are Athari creed, they restrict Allah (swt) to a place, and give him features.




Then there were extremly metaphoric groups who error. aph

The best path is one of both. Where the zahir, or literal, doesn't transgress the metaphorical, and the metaphorical doesn't transgress the literal.

 

[Matemkar]

Salam. I agree with brother Assad91.
While one is studying Quran, he needs to know there are clear and ambigious verses in it.

180 Questions Enquiries About Islam Volume One: The Practical Laws [Please study this short part (43)]

And, yes, in ambigious verses, both Zahir and Batin meanings can be there.

Example, Quran, 56:79

لَّا يَمَسُّهُ إِلَّا الْمُطَهَّرُونَ

"None shall touch it save the purified ones."

Literally it refers to wudhu (ablution), physical cleanliness, which is a must before touching Quran and performing salah; described in another verse:

"... فَاغْسِلُوا وُجُوهَكُمْ وَأَيْدِيَكُمْ إِلَى الْمَرَافِقِ وَامْسَحُوا بِرُءُوسِكُمْ وَأَرْجُلَكُمْ إِلَى الْكَعْبَيْنِ ..."

"... wash your faces and your hands as far as the elbows, and wipe your heads and your feet to the ankles.." [Quran, 5:6]

Metaphorically touching (MASH) may refer to interpreting. Like, one of the reasons we call Jesus; AL-MASIH, is because he interpreted the Judaic laws. So, it would also mean "None shall interpret it save the purified ones" which may refer to spiritual purity.. In fact the term "purified ones" [Mutahharoon] is used in another verse for ahl al-kisa (the people of the cloak, that is, Prophet Muhammad and Ahlulbayt).. So, it would also mean, none should interpret (draw laws) from Quran except them and their likes..

So, yep, I believe both literal (ablution) and meaphoric (interpretation) meanings can be valid at the same time..

ma salam

 

[seeking4truth]

Holy Quran Sura Al Imran(ch.3) verse 7.

"He it is who has sent down to thee the Book; in it there are verses that are decisive in meaning - they are the basis of the Book - and there are others that are susceptible to different interpretations. But those in whose hearts is perversity pursue such thereof that are susceptible of different interpretations, seeking discord and seeking different interpretations. And none knows its right interpretation except Allah and those who are firmly grounded in knowledge; they say 'We believe in it; the whole is from our Lord' - and none take heed except those gifted with understanding."

The debate is over what the interpretations are not whether there are verses that should be interpreted.

 

[paarsurrey]

Do you think a majority of Muslims interpret the Qur'an LITERALLY or METAPHORICALLY?
Or do Muslims do both interpretations? Can you possibly do both? (Give an example or two, where it can be interpret both literally and metaphorically.)
Was the Qur'an written to be literal or not?
Note that this very last question above, is different to the other questions before the last one. The last one was how the Qur'an written, and the earlier questions about how MUSLIMS would INTERPRET the Qur'an. They are not the same things, so please answer the questions accordingly.

What is your own understanding about the issues, one by one with examples? Please
Regards

 

[paarsurrey]

@ gnostic
Hello, hello,....
Regards

 

[paarsurrey]

Qur'an: Literal or Metaphoric

There are rules to it; and the context decides.
Regards

 

[loverofhumanity]

Do you think a majority of Muslims interpret the Qur'an LITERALLY or METAPHORICALLY?

Or do Muslims do both interpretations? Can you possibly do both? (Give an example or two, where it can be interpret both literally and metaphorically.)

Was the Qur'an written to be literal or not?

Note that this very last question above, is different to the other questions before the last one. The last one was how the Qur'an written, and the earlier questions about how MUSLIMS would INTERPRET the Qur'an. They are not the same things, so please answer the questions accordingly.

Firstly, the Quran was revealed not written. Next there are some clear passages such as laws and some mystical ones such as those about the day of resurrection.

The Quran says that none knows the interpretation of the Quran except God and 'those well grounded in knowledge'. Mauslims have taken 'those grounded in knowledge t mean Muslim scholars' but Baha'u'llah says it means the Prophets of God which makes sense as after God in knowledge comes the Prophets not man. Man is last in order when it comes to knowledge.

The Quran unfortunately is interpreted by scholars and many of them are very bright but there are many bad interpretations leading to extremism.

Sura 3:7

It is God who has revealed the Book to you in which some verses are clear statements (which accept no interpretation) and these are the fundamental ideas of the Book, while other verses may have several possibilities. Those whose hearts are perverse, follow the unclear statements in pursuit of their own mischievous goals by interpreting them in a way that will suit their own purpose. No one knows its true interpretations except God and those who have a firm grounding in knowledge say, "We believe in it. All its verses are from our Lord." No one can grasp this fact except the people of reason.