Episode 12: Among the types of allegory of the Sunnah from (The Holy Quran)

The second type: that which gives an indication that the Prophet – peace and blessings of Allah be upon him–was a clarifier to the Book, a commentator on the Book according to a considerate manner in the sight of the Almighty, in accordance with that which he dispensed rulings on the servants, and that he teaches his nation: the Book and the Wisdom, which is–as Shafi'i and others said–the Sunnah, on the presupposition that it is the Book. Teaching it to the nation means: commenting on it, making it clear fully and elucidating its analogical. This requires an allegory of his clarification of the Book with his statement, action or endorsement.

1 - The Almighty said: (We have sent down unto you (also) the Message; that you may explain clearly to men what is sent for them, and that they may give thought) [Chapter An-Nahl /44].

2 - And the Almighty said: (And We sent down the Book to you for the express purpose, that you should make clear to them those things in which they differ, and that it should be a guide and a mercy to those who believe) [Chapter An-Nahl /64].

The gift of elegance of expression is of the greatest gifts, which Allah bestowed on His Messenger, since He did not make his mission, the delivery of the Holy book, its conveyance to the people only, and repetition of its words, but Allah gave him the grant of power of explanation of this Holy book, because - peace be upon him - as the revelation of the Quran was descending on him, was also descending on him the revelation of illustrating it and explaining it to him, the Almighty said: (Nor does he say (aught) of (his own) desire. It is no less than inspiration sent down to him) [Chapter An-Najm /3-4].

Shafi’i said: elegance of expression is a term grouping meanings that have combined roots, ramified branches...the ensemble of what Allah showed to His creation in His Book, from that which He set as worship for them, because of what it came to pass from His judgment–Exalted be His praise–of facets:

Of which: that which He made clear to His creation in script, such as the ensemble of His ordinances; in that there are on them prayers, almsgiving, pilgrimage and fasting, that He prohibited vices both exposed and hidden, the text on adultery, alcohol, eating carrion, blood and pork, and made clear to them how He prescribed ablution, and other than that of what was made clear in script.

And of which: that which He affirmed His ordinance by means of His Book, and made clear how it is through the lips of His Prophet, such as the number of prayers, almsgiving and their timing, and other than that of His ordinances which He revealed in His book.

And of which: that which the Messenger of Allah–peace and blessings of Allah be upon him – set as Tradition, in which there isn’t a text for the rule, and Allah prescribed in His Book obedience to His Messenger –peace and blessings of Allah be upon him–and to converge to his ordinance, so whoever accepted from His Messenger of Allah, accepted the ordinance of Allah. (1)

So, everything issued from the Prophet –peace and blessings of Allah be upon him– of that which is a clarification of the law must be obeyed and followed; because its objective is made clear by Allah in His Holy Book expressly in the previous two verses, and the duty to obey Him in general in all that which is issued from Him, Allah made it a duty upon His servants in many verses, some of which will come in the third type, which is the forthcoming.

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(1) - The Message p. 21-22.

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