A Qur'an-Alone Commentary (Sura 4)
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Ayat relevant to the issue are presented with my interpretations below. I intend to cover all the Qur'an and prove that it is all we need for our religious guidance.
?O people! be careful of your Lord, Who created you from a single being and created its mate of the same and spread from these two, many men and women; and be careful of Allah, by Whom you demand one of another , and the ties of relationship; surely Allah ever watches over you.?
1
Our constitutional and social rights come from Allah (SWT).
?These are Allah's limits, and whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger, He will cause him to enter gardens beneath which rivers flow, to abide in them; and this is the great achievement.?
13
The previous two ayat detail the rules of inheritance. Therefore 413 is re-emphasising the fact that to obey the Qur?anic injunctions is to obey the Messenger and hence Allah (SWT).
?And as for those who are guilty of an indecency from among your women, call to witnesses against them four from among you; then if they bear witness confine them in the houses until death takes them away or Allah opens some way for them.?
15
This ayah is often cited as an example of ?abrogation? since the punishment for fornication in 242 is one hundred lashings. However it makes little sense because in 425 (the same sura) the punishment for adultery of a married slave is a half of that for married adulteresses. How can you ?half? keep someone until death or until Allah (SWT) finds some other way? The answer is that this ayah does not use the word ?zina? (adultery) but uses ?l-fishata? (immorality). Let us examine 416
?And as for the two who are guilty of indecency from among you (i.e. men), give them both a punishment; then if they repent and amend, turn aside from them; surely Allah is Oft-returning (to mercy), the Merciful.?
The above ayah refers to male homosexuality, thus 415 appears to refer to lesbianism (or general immorality). The punishment for lesbianism is therefore keeping them in the house until Allah (SWT) ordains for them another way (e.g. repentance (417) or marriage/divorce). The punishment for male homosexuality appears to be the same as for adultery (due to the nature of the act), but it could be discretionary (depending on whether or not there is penetration).
?Allah desires to explain to you, and to guide you into the ways of those before you, and to turn to you , and Allah is Knowing, Wise.?
26
Allah (SWT) explains to us the right way. The Qur?an is guidance.
?And serve Allah and do not associate any thing with Him and be good to the parents and to the near of kin and the orphans and the needy and the neighbor of kin and the alien neighbor, and the companion in a journey and the wayfarer and those whom your right hands possess; surely Allah does not love him who is proud, boastful.?
36
Associate nothing with Allah (SWT). Be kind to THE relative etc., not just to the prophet?s (see 4223).
?How will it be, then, when We bring from every people a witness and bring you as a witness against these??
41
The Messenger is a witness to his people, but not a guardian since there is no intercession (4109).
?O you who have been given the Book! believe that which We have revealed, verifying what you have, before We alter faces then turn them on their backs, or curse them as We cursed the violators of the Sabbath, and the command of Allah shall be executed.?
47
We must believe what has been revealed.
?Surely Allah does not forgive that anything should be associated with Him, and forgives what is besides that to whomsoever He pleases; and whoever associates anything with Allah, he devises indeed a great sin.?
48
Turning to anyone but Allah (SWT) for salvation is the greatest of sins.
?Have you not seen those to whom a portion of the Book has been given? They believe in idols and false deities and say of those who disbelieve These are better guided in the path than those who believe.?
51
People who receive scriptures think they are guided.
?Or do they envy the people for what Allah has given them of His grace? But indeed We have given to Ibrahim's children the Book and the wisdom, and We have given them a grand kingdom.?
54
The Book was given to prior generations and contains the wisdom (1739, 3334, 362, 434, 4363, 545).
?Surely Allah commands you to make over trusts to their owners and that when you judge between people you judge with justice; surely Allah admonishes you with what is excellent; surely Allah is Seeing, Hearing.?
58
People must judge (i.e. use discretion) wisely and with justice.
For the ayat 59-65, see notes for 2124. See also 4238 for an ayah involving community consultation.
?And if We had prescribed for them Lay down your lives or go forth from your homes, they would not have done it except a few of them; and if they had done what they were admonished, it would have certainly been better for them and best in strengthening .?
66
In context with the previous ayah, the decisions (prescriptions) of Muhammad (SAW) are intermingled with the Will of Allah (SWT). This is because Muhammad (SAW) judges by the Qur?an alone (543-50, 551-52). See 469
?And whoever obeys Allah and the Messenger, these are with those upon whom Allah has bestowed favors from among the prophets and the truthful and the martyrs and the good, and a goodly company are they!?
?Whatever benefit comes to you is from Allah, and whatever misfortune befalls you is from yourself; and We have sent you to mankind as a messenger; and Allah is sufficient as a witness.?
79
Muhammad (SAW) is not perfect and is capable of sinning against his soul. Hence he is repeatedly warned to disobey the disbelievers lest he follow their ways.
?Whoever obeys the Messenger, he indeed obeys Allah, and whoever turns back, so We have not sent you as a keeper over them.?
80
See notes for 379. Muhammad (SAW) delivered Allah?s (SWT) Message and was ordered to judge only by the Qur?an ((543-50, 551-52)).
?And they say Obedience. But when they go out from your presence, a party of them decide by night upon doing otherwise than what you say; and Allah writes down what they decide by night, therefore turn aside from them and trust in Allah, and Allah is sufficient as a protector.?
81
See notes for 2124.
?Do they not then meditate on the Quran? And if it were from any other than Allah, they would have found in it many a discrepancy.?
82
This ayah places 481 in context by clarifying again that obeying the Messenger is obeying Allah (SWT). It also states that there are no contradictions (thus abrogations) within the Qur?an.
?And when there comes to them news of security or fear they spread it abroad; and if they had referred it to the Messenger and to those in authority among them, those among them who can search out the knowledge of it would have known it, and were it not for the grace of Allah upon you and His mercy, you would have certainly followed the Shaitan save a few.?
83
See notes for 2124.
?Allah, there is no god but He-- He will most certainly gather you together on the resurrection day, there is no doubt in it; and who is more true in word than Allah??
87
Allah?s (SWT) hadith is the best.
?And whoever flies in Allah's way, he will find in the earth many a place of refuge and abundant resources, and whoever goes forth from his house flying to Allah and His Messenger, and then death overtakes him, his reward is indeed with Allah and Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.?
100
See notes for 332-21
?Surely We have revealed the Book to you with the truth that you may judge between people by means of that which Allah has taught you; and be not an advocate on behalf of the treacherous.?
105
Muhammad (SAW) was ordered to judge by the Book.
?Behold! you are they who plead for them in this world's life, but who will plead for them with Allah on the resurrection day, or who shall be their protector??
109
There is no intercession during the Day of Judgement.
?And whoever does evil or acts unjustly to his soul, then asks forgiveness of Allah, he shall find Allah Forgiving, Merciful.?
110
We do not need to ask the Messengers for forgiveness from Allah (SWT). We should never do it (regardless of whether they ask) (15).
?And were it not for Allah's grace upon you and His mercy a party of them had certainly designed to bring you to perdition and they do not bring to perdition but their own souls, and they shall not harm you in any way, and Allah has revealed to you the Book and the wisdom, and He has taught you what you did not know, and Allah's grace on you is very great.?
113
Allah (SWT) teaches the Book and the wisdom (i.e. what we did not know).
?And whoever acts hostilely to the Messenger after that guidance has become manifest to him, and follows other than the way of the believers, We will turn him to that to which he has turned and make him enter hell; and it is an evil resort.?
115
The way of the believers is the way of those who have accepted guidance as delivered by the Messenger. See notes for 2124 and 331-32.
?Surely Allah does not forgive that anything should be associated with Him, and He forgives what is besides this to whom He pleases; and whoever associates anything with Allah, he indeed strays off into a remote error.?
116
Shirq is the gravest sin, and so we should follow nothing but the Qur?an.
?And those who believe and do good, We will make them enter into gardens beneath which rivers flow, to abide therein for ever; a promise of Allah, true , and who is truer of word than Allah??
122
The Qur?an is the best hadith.
?And who has a better religion than he who submits himself entirely to Allah? And he is the doer of good and follows the faith of Ibrahim, the upright one, and Allah took Ibrahim as a friend.?
125
We should follow the Word of Allah (SWT) entirely. Ibrahim (SAW) was a good example; does this ayah requires ahadith of Ibrahim (SAW)?
?O you who believe! be maintainers of justice, bearers of witness of Allah's sake, though it may be against your own selves or parents or near relatives; if he be rich or poor, Allah is nearer to them both in compassion; therefore do not follow low desires, lest you deviate; and if you swerve or turn aside, then surely Allah is aware of what you do.?
135
We should conduct our lives and derive our social/political judgements from the Qur?an alone.
?O you who believe! believe in Allah and His Messenger and the Book which He has revealed to His Messenger and the Book which He revealed before; and whoever disbelieves in Allah and His angels and His messengers and the last day, he indeed strays off into a remote error.?
136
We must believe in Allah (SWT), His Messengers (because the Books come through Messengers), the angels and the Last Day.
?Except those who repent and amend and hold fast to Allah and are sincere in their religion to Allah, these are with the believers, and Allah will grant the believers a mighty reward.?
146
Religion is for Allah (SWT), and no-one else.
?Surely those who disbelieve in Allah and His messengers and desire to make a distinction between Allah and His messengers and say We believe in some and disbelieve in others, and desire to take a course between that. These it is that are truly unbelievers, and We have prepared for the unbelievers a disgraceful chastisement. And those who believe in Allah and His messengers and do not make a distinction between any of them-- Allah will grant them their rewards; and Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.?
150-152
We must not make distinction amongst Messengers. Therefore we should not ?copy? Muhammad (SAW) in everything by following conjecture.
?And there is not one of the followers of the Book but most certainly
believes in this before his death, and on the day of resurrection he shall be a witness against them.?159
Prophets will disown those who love them instead of Allah (SWT). See also 2530.
?But the firm in knowledge among them and the believers believe in what has been revealed to. you and what was revealed before you, and those who keep up prayers and those who give the poor-rate and the believers in Allah and the last day, these it is whom We will give a mighty reward.?
162
Those with knowledge and those with true belief believe in the Message (unchanged through the generations).
? messengers as the givers of good news and as warners, so that people should not have a plea against Allah after the messengers; and Allah is Mighty, Wise. But Allah bears witness by what He has revealed to you that He has revealed it with His knowledge, and the angels bear witness ; and Allah is sufficient as a witness.?
165-166
Messengers are but givers of good news and warners. They bear witness that their people were warned, and the Message was delivered from Allah (SWT).
?O people! surely the Messenger has come to you with the truth from your Lord, therefore believe, good for you and if you disbelieve, then surely whatever is in the heavens and the earth is Allah's; and Allah is Knowing, Wise.?
170
The Qur?an is the truth.
?O followers of the Book! do not exceed the limits in your religion, and do not speak against Allah, but the truth; the Messiah, Isa son of Marium is only a messenger of Allah and His Word which He communicated to Marium and a spirit from Him; believe therefore in Allah and His messengers, and say not, Three. Desist, it is better for you; Allah is only one Allah; far be It from His glory that He should have a son, whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth is His, and Allah is sufficient for a Protector. The Messiah does by no means disdain that he should be a servant of Allah, nor do the angels who are near to Him, and whoever disdains His service and is proud, He will gather them all together to Himself.?
171-172
The religion is in the Book. Messengers are servants of Allah (SWT), and thus obeying the Messenger (by obeying the Message) is obeying Allah (SWT) (480).
?O people! surely there has come to you manifest proof from your Lord and We have sent to you clear light. Then as for those who believe in Allah and hold fast by Him, He will cause them to enter into His mercy and grace and guide them to Himself on a right path.?
174-175
The Qur?an is the proof we need, and nothing else. It is a clear light and therefore all we need for guidance. It is Allah?s (SWT) guidance, and thus we must cling to Allah (SWT) (by following His Word) alone.