Should a Quranic Verse Be Limited to Its Original Context?
Answered by Shaykh Anas al-Musa
Question
Should we limit the interpretation of a Quranic verse to the circumstance for which it was revealed, or is there more to consider?
Answer
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
All praise is due to Allah, Lord of all worlds. Peace and blessings be upon the Messenger sent as a mercy to the worlds, our Master and Prophet, Muhammad, and his Family and Companions.
When comparing the wording of verses that have been revealed alongside narrations explaining their revelatory circumstances, we observe two key points:
First: Non-General Wording
If the revealed text is specific to the circumstance and the wording has no general applicability, then the verse is definitively limited to the circumstance for which it was revealed. For example, in the verse from Surat al-Layl:
“But the righteous will be spared from it—who donate (some of) their wealth only to purify themselves.” [Quran, 92:17-18]
This verse was revealed concerning Abu Bakr al-Siddiq by consensus. Therefore, Imam Fakhr al-Din al-Razi used this verse along with the verse:
“Surely the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous among you.” [Quran, 49:13], to demonstrate that our master Abu Bakr al-Siddiq is the best of people after the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace).
Second: General Wording
If the circumstance is specific but the wording of the verse is general and encompasses all that falls under the generality of that wording, then it is not permissible to limit the verse to the circumstance for which it was revealed. If Allah (Most High) intended for the ruling to be exclusive to the event in which it was revealed, He would not have revealed it in general terms.
Instead, the text is meant to serve as a general law applicable to all similar cases to the story for which the verse was revealed. For this reason, scholars have established an important principle:
“Consideration is given to the generality of the wording, not the specificity of the circumstance.”
Example
“A man came to the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) and said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, I met a woman in the garden, embraced her, touched her, and kissed her, but I did not have intercourse with her.’ The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) remained silent until this verse was revealed:
“Establish prayer (O Prophet) at both ends of the day and in the early part of the night. Surely, good deeds wipe out evil deeds. That is a reminder for the mindful.” [Quran, 11:114]
The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) then called the man and recited the verse to him. ‘Umar asked: ‘O Messenger of Allah, is this specific to him or to all the people?’ He replied: ‘Rather, it is for all the people.’” [Muslim; Ahmad]
Conclusion
Finally, the principle “Consideration is given to the generality of the wording, not the specificity of the circumstance” is self-evident. In fact, laws in all countries of the world follow this principle. Laws are typically issued for specific reasons, but their rulings are general and apply to everyone. [See: Suyuti, Lubab al-Nuqul, al-Itqan; Razi, Tafsir Mafatih al-Ghayb; Zurqani, Manahil al-‘Irfan; ‘Itr, ‘Ulum al-Quran]
May Allah bless the Prophet Muhammad and give him peace, and his Family and Companions.
And Allah knows best.
[Shaykh] Anas al-Musa
Shaykh Anas al-Musa, born in Hama, Syria, in 1974, is an erudite scholar of notable repute. He graduated from the Engineering Institute in Damascus, where he specialized in General Construction, and Al-Azhar University, Faculty of Usul al-Din, where he specialized in Hadith.
He studied under prominent scholars in Damascus, including Shaykh Abdul Rahman al-Shaghouri and Shaykh Adib al-Kallas, among others. Shaykh Anas has memorized the Quran and is proficient in the ten Mutawatir recitations, having studied under Shaykh Bakri al-Tarabishi and Shaykh Mowfaq ‘Ayun. He also graduated from the Iraqi Hadith School.
He has taught numerous Islamic subjects at Shari‘a institutes in Syria and Turkey. Shaykh Anas has served as an Imam and preacher for over 15 years and is a teacher of the Quran in its various readings and narrations.
Currently, he works as a teacher at SeekersGuidance and is responsible for academic guidance there. He has completed his Master’s degree in Hadith and is now pursuing his Ph.D. in the same field. Shaykh Anas al-Musa is married and resides in Istanbul.
