'Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab Asks, "Why Is There So Much Disagreement Amongst This Ummah?"

[TheAuthenticBase]

It is reported that in a conversation with 'Abdullaah ibn 'Abbaas, 'Umar ibn Al-Khattaab asked him:

"Why should there be disagreement amongst this ummah, all of whom follow the same Prophet (saw) and pray in the direction of the same qiblah?"​

To this, ibn 'Abbaas replied:

"O leader of the believers, the Quraan was sent down to us, we read it and we know the circumstances in which it was revealed. But there may be people after us who will read the Quraan without knowing the occasions of its revelation. Thus they will form their own opinion, which might lead to conflict and even bloodshed among them."​

'Umar disagreed with ibn 'Abbaas for saying so at first, but, when Ibn 'Abbaas departed, 'Umar pondered over what he had said. He then sent for ibn 'Abbaas to tell him that he agreed with his view.

[Principles Of Islamic Juresprudence, p. 54]

Ibn 'Abbaas was referring to certain misinterpretations that could arise due to ignorance of the reasons for the revelation of certain aayahs (Asbaab Al-Nuzool). The next post will in shaa Allaah shed some light on this.

Online Source: http://theauthenticbase.wordpress.c...here-so-much-disagreement-amongst-this-ummah/

 

[TheAuthenticBase]

Additional points of benefit:

As a side note; it is godo to derive certain benefitial points form this narration.

1) Here we see that after the initial disagreement between two of the Companions of the Messenger of Allaah, 'Umar sent for ibn 'Abbaas to inform him that he agreed with his view, this shows his concern for unity in all aspects, not just outward, but also to kill off any internal feelings of disunity.

2) We see 'Umar ibn Al-Khattaab, a senior, the leader of the believers, the head of a state, asking a question to someone far less in age than him. And there is no shame in asking questions to one lesser in age than you, provided they have baseerah (insight and knowledge). And this shows 'Umar's humbleness.

3) The importance of the science of knowledge (i.e, asbaab al-nuzool).

4) That knowledge comes about by asking questions. As the scholars have stated that 'a shy student and a arrogant student go nowhere'.

5) 'Umar's great concern for the unity of this ummah.

6) And lastly, we see from this narration, that no one is infallible in their knowledge.

 

[ilyas_eh]

Jazaaka Allaahu Khayran, brother, for sharing this.

You wrote,


Unfortunately, asbaab al-nuzool is not a science, because all narrations that mention the circumstances of revelation are uncertain in their attribution (ظني الورود) as they have been narrated by a few to a few (آحاد). You will notice, after reading the classic books, that the scholars and narrators have often differed about the circumstances of revelation of the same verse. Furthermore, jurists (الفقهاء) and foundationists (الأصوليون) have agreed that interpretation of a verse and analyzing it for the purpose of deriving teachings and rulings from it, is not bound by its circumstances of revelation, but rather by its general meaning, unless specified elsewhere (العبرة بعموم اللفظ لا بخصوص السبب).
That does not mean that learning the circumstances of revelation is useless; it only means that it is a not a precise discipline to rely on for exegesis (tafseer) or analysis (Ijtihaad).

Jazak Allahu khyir for sharing brother.
very informative.

wa salaam.

 

[TheAuthenticBase]

the asbaab un nuzool help aid and guide the mufassir in knowing the correct context of the verse...

Its a long topic... Yasir qaadhi has a nice little chapter on it, one can read it here: http://theauthenticbase.files.wordp...duction-sciences-of-the-quran-yasir-qadhi.pdf

As for as i am aware, i hold the opposite views as u stated, but not arguing... *smile*

all narrations that mention the circumstances of revelation are uncertain in their attribution

All? Im not sure its quite fair to say that is it?

anyways, no arguing...