The Principles of the Exegesis

SYNOPSIS The invalidity of depending upon conjecture and the views of commenta‌ tors in the comprehension of the Quran; the sources of the exegesis; particulariza‌ tion of the Quranic ordinances through a single tradition; the error of those who deny it, and their views on the question.

Al•tafsir (the exegesis), is the clarification of Gods purport in His Book, the Quran. It is therefore improper to rely in this clarification on conjectures and application of personal discretion. Nor is it proper to depend on a thing which is not established as being a proof derived from the intellect (aql) or from revelation (shar}, for it is prohibited to follow conjecture and to ascribe a thing to God without His permis‌ sion. God, the Exalted, says:

Say, Has God permitted you, or do you invent a lie concerning God? (Q.l٠:٥٩).

In another place God says:

Do not follow that whereof you have no knowledge (Q١٧:٣٦).

There are other verses in the Quran, as well as the traditions, that forbid actions that are not based on knowledge. Moreover, the traditions that prohibit engaging in a conjectural exegesis ar.e exhaustive and reported in the Sunni as well as Shtite sources.
Consequently, it is clear that it is not permissible to follow any exegete in his
commentary, regardless of whether he is, or is not, of sound religion, for this would be a kind of reliance on conjecture, and that is of no avail in seeking the truth.

Sources of the Exegesis

Undoubtedly, the commentator has to follow the apparent sense of the text as under‌ stood by an Arab well versed in the Arabic language. (We already demonstrated the evidentiary nature of the apparent meanings of the text.) Or one should follow what