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Title: A Reflection On Surah AL-ISRA’
Authors: Tanveer Azmat
Journal: Pakistan Journal of Qur'anic Studies
Publisher: Islamia University, Bahawalpur
Country: Pakistan
Year: 2024
Volume: 3
Issue: 1
Language: English
Keywords: hermeneuticstafsīrISRA'NazmMirajMethodology of Understanding a SurahSocial Dimension of Tawhid
Abstract
The reflection on Surah al-Isra’ (The Night Journey) is an attempt to show how the surah (chapter) is an integral whole of meaning. Each ayah (verse) of the surah connects with the two main themes of the surah – Meccan polytheists objections to the Prophet’s message and God’s responses, and the believers’ impatience asking for the punishment of the polytheists in the eleventh year of the Prophet’s teaching in Mecca. The example of the Children of Isra’il in the surah serves the purpose of informing the polytheists of their coming reward or punishment based on accepting or rejecting the Prophet’s message. When we study the surah as a unity of meaning, i.e., all ayat (verses) connect in meaning with each other, the discontinuity in the narrative disappears. For example, ayah 1 is about Isra’ (night journey) but then connected with a wa (and) in ayah 2 with the story of Moses. The two subjects have no connection, but a deep connection exists. The difficult circumstance in the eleventh year of the Prophet’s preaching required to show the Prophet God’s great signs that God was in full control. Therefore, the believers shall remain patient. Whereas the ayah 2 poses a threat to the polytheists by narrating the story of Moses and his followers when they disobeyed. The surah is full of such discontinuities. For each discontinuity, the paper will show the hidden connection. The reflection on the Qur’an then becomes a process of discovering hidden meaning threads among the ayat of the surah. The beauty of a narrative is in its flow of ideas without discontinuities. Further, it fulfills the idea of a surah as a boundary within which certain ideas exist and others excluded based on the principle of making certain key points. Reading a surah as disjointed subjects or unity of subjects drastically impacts its correct understanding.
To demonstrate that Surah Al-Isra' is an integral whole of meaning, where each verse connects to the surah's main themes of Meccan polytheists' objections and God's responses, and believers' impatience.
The study employs a methodology that treats the surah as an integrated whole of meaning, reads the Qur'an in its literary context and the reader's socio-historic circumstance, and assumes the surah is revealed for the current reader. It focuses on discovering hidden meaning threads connecting the verses.
graph TD
A["Start: Reading Surah Al-Isra'"] --> B["Treat Surah as Integrated Whole"];
B --> C["Read in Literary Context"];
C --> D["Read in Reader's Socio-Historic Context"];
D --> E["Discover Hidden Meaning Threads"];
E --> F["Analyze Verse Interconnectedness"];
F --> G["Identify Main Themes"];
G --> H["Address Objections and Responses"];
H --> I["Critique Believers' Attitudes"];
I --> J["Provide Advice to Prophet"];
J --> K["Outline Ideal Muslim Society"];
K --> L["Summarize Meccan Objections & God's Responses"];
L --> M["Formulate Conclusion"];
M --> N["End: Comprehensive Understanding"];
The paper argues that a holistic view of Surah Al-Isra' is crucial for correct understanding, revolving around polytheists' objections and God's answers, and believers' prayers for punishment. It highlights the significance of conjunctions like "wa" in revealing hidden connections between verses and themes. The author also discusses the importance of understanding the Prophet's human nature as depicted in the Qur'an, rather than viewing him as infallible. The methodology emphasizes the dynamic nature of understanding scripture, influenced by the reader's context and evolving human history.
- Surah Al-Isra' addresses Meccan polytheists' objections to the Prophet's message and God's responses, as well as believers' impatience for divine punishment of the polytheists.
- The example of the Children of Isra'il serves to inform the polytheists of their potential reward or punishment based on their actions.
- The surah's verses are interconnected, and understanding these connections resolves apparent discontinuities in the narrative.
- The methodology emphasizes personal engagement with the Qur'anic text, critical evaluation of past exegeses, and understanding scripture in one's own socio-historic context.
Understanding Surah Al-Isra' as a unified text with interconnected verses is essential for grasping its profound meanings. The paper advocates for a methodology that encourages deep reflection and personal engagement with the Qur'anic text to uncover these hidden connections, leading to a more accurate and insightful interpretation.
- The surah was revealed in the eleventh year of the Prophet's preaching in Mecca (621 C.E.), as evidenced by the mention of Isra' in ayah 1.
- Surah Al-Isra' contains one hundred and eleven verses.
- The paper identifies ten "Dos" and eight "Don'ts" within verses 23-38, totaling eighteen commandments.
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