Monday, September 13, 2010

Introduction to Ilm Munasabah المدخل الى علم المناسبات


بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
الحمد الله الذي بنعمته تتم الصالحات و أشهد أن لا اله الا الله و حده لا شريك له و أشهد أن محمدا عبده و رسوله ولقد أدي الرسالة و بلغ الأمانة و نصح الأمة و تركها على المحجة البيضاء ليالها كنهارها و السلام على آله و صحبه أجمعين و من تبعهم بإحسان إلى يوم الدين

Introduction to Ilm al-Munasabat

By Abu Hanzolah Mohamad Zahri

When we read the Holy Quran (whether if we understand Arabic language or if we read the translation only), sometimes we can find (due to our limited knowledge) that sometimes Allah swt is speaking about a certain topic then suddenly the topic is changed into another topic. Sometimes the topic digress to another topic and after sometime, return to the main topic. Or maybe it changed the topic wholly without ending the story. Sometimes the Quran describe events chronologically while sometimes it does not. Maybe we had asked ourselves, "Why??" Why there is digression? Why the topic or subject suddenly changed? What is the relation between this ayah and the other ayah before it?

Well this is where the branch (subject) of ilm comes into the light. This ilm studies the relationship and connection between two things from all or any perspective and area, and in this case in the book of Allah swt, (1) understanding the relationship and connection between suwar (plural for surah), such as the relationship between one surah and the one before it or after it; (2) understanding the relationship and connection between ayats, such as the relationship between this ayat and the one before it.

From this Ilm, we will see the balaghah and beautiful harmony and flow of the Quran. Not only we can feel the beautiful Qiraat (recitation), but also understand the harmonious meaning and secrets of the Words of Allah swt. We will also appreciate the Quran more and understand that the knowledge that we had is so minute and little to understand the full mukjizat of the Book of Allah swt. And this is just a small fraction of the Sciences of the Quran (ulumul Quran) and ulumul Tafseer. Allahu Akbar wa lillahi ma fissamawati wal ardh.




 


 

In addition, there are also different types of munasabah (in different perspective) such as:


  1. Al Munasabah between the two hukums (rulings) that are found in the group of ayats or just one ayat.
    For example in the ayat pertaining to the hokum of asking permission, there is also mentioned the hukm of lowering the gaze. (An-Nur 27-31)

    يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لَا تَدۡخُلُواْ بُيُوتًا غَيۡرَ بُيُوتِڪُمۡ حَتَّىٰ تَسۡتَأۡنِسُواْ وَتُسَلِّمُواْ عَلَىٰٓ أَهۡلِهَا‌ۚ ذَٲلِكُمۡ خَيۡرٌ۬ لَّكُمۡ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَذَكَّرُونَ (٢٧) فَإِن لَّمۡ تَجِدُواْ فِيهَآ أَحَدً۬ا فَلَا تَدۡخُلُوهَا حَتَّىٰ يُؤۡذَنَ لَكُمۡ‌ۖ وَإِن قِيلَ لَكُمُ ٱرۡجِعُواْ فَٱرۡجِعُواْ‌ۖ هُوَ أَزۡكَىٰ لَكُمۡ‌ۚ وَٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعۡمَلُونَ عَلِيمٌ۬ (٢٨) لَّيۡسَ عَلَيۡكُمۡ جُنَاحٌ أَن تَدۡخُلُواْ بُيُوتًا غَيۡرَ مَسۡكُونَةٍ۬ فِيہَا مَتَـٰعٌ۬ لَّكُمۡ‌ۚ وَٱللَّهُ يَعۡلَمُ مَا تُبۡدُونَ وَمَا تَكۡتُمُونَ (٢٩) قُل لِّلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ يَغُضُّواْ مِنۡ أَبۡصَـٰرِهِمۡ وَيَحۡفَظُواْ فُرُوجَهُمۡ‌ۚ ذَٲلِكَ أَزۡكَىٰ لَهُمۡ‌ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ خَبِيرُۢ بِمَا يَصۡنَعُونَ (٣٠) وَقُل لِّلۡمُؤۡمِنَـٰتِ يَغۡضُضۡنَ مِنۡ أَبۡصَـٰرِهِنَّ وَيَحۡفَظۡنَ فُرُوجَهُنَّ وَلَا يُبۡدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا مَا ظَهَرَ مِنۡهَا‌ۖ وَلۡيَضۡرِبۡنَ بِخُمُرِهِنَّ عَلَىٰ جُيُوبِہِنَّ‌ۖ وَلَا يُبۡدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا لِبُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوۡ ءَابَآٮِٕهِنَّ أَوۡ ءَابَآءِ بُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوۡ أَبۡنَآٮِٕهِنَّ أَوۡ أَبۡنَآءِ بُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوۡ إِخۡوَٲنِهِنَّ أَوۡ بَنِىٓ إِخۡوَٲنِهِنَّ أَوۡ بَنِىٓ أَخَوَٲتِهِنَّ أَوۡ نِسَآٮِٕهِنَّ أَوۡ مَا مَلَكَتۡ أَيۡمَـٰنُهُنَّ أَوِ ٱلتَّـٰبِعِينَ غَيۡرِ أُوْلِى ٱلۡإِرۡبَةِ مِنَ ٱلرِّجَالِ أَوِ ٱلطِّفۡلِ ٱلَّذِينَ لَمۡ يَظۡهَرُواْ عَلَىٰ عَوۡرَٲتِ ٱلنِّسَآءِ‌ۖ وَلَا يَضۡرِبۡنَ بِأَرۡجُلِهِنَّ لِيُعۡلَمَ مَا يُخۡفِينَ مِن زِينَتِهِنَّ‌ۚ وَتُوبُوٓاْ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ جَمِيعًا أَيُّهَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنُونَ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تُفۡلِحُونَ (٣١)

    What is the relationship between the hukm of seeking permission before entering the house and lowering the gaze? Verily the relationship is quite apparent and clear, that is it got to do with safeguarding the honour and chastity of a muslim. Because when entering another house without permission may result in seeing the awrah of the people of the house. And lowering the gaze is the way of a mukmin to guard his own and other chastity.


  2. Munasabah al mutlaq of the surah for the purpose/main topic.
    For example surah An-Nisa. Verily many of the ayats that are mentioned in this surah deal with family dealings, masail of marriage and all other matters that deal with An-Nisa (women). That is why the opening of the surah immediately talks about the creation of man and woman and the first marriage between man and woman in the earth (that is between Adam and Eve) and as an indication of the main topic that will be discussed and mentioned in this Surah.

    يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلنَّاسُ ٱتَّقُواْ رَبَّكُمُ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَكُم مِّن نَّفۡسٍ۬ وَٲحِدَةٍ۬ وَخَلَقَ مِنۡہَا زَوۡجَهَا وَبَثَّ مِنۡہُمَا رِجَالاً۬ كَثِيرً۬ا وَنِسَآءً۬‌ۚ وَٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ ٱلَّذِى تَسَآءَلُونَ بِهِۦ وَٱلۡأَرۡحَامَ‌ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ عَلَيۡكُمۡ رَقِيبً۬ا (١)


  3. Al Munasabah between the name of the Surah and the contents of the surah.
    For example, we take Surah Al-Kahf (the cave). Verily, in this surah, there are mentioned the main Fitn (trials and tribulations) that befalls mankind, such as the (a) Fitnah in stead fasting in the Deen, such as the story of Ashabul Kahf; (b) Fitnah in Julasa' (seating and companionship) – Kahf 28; (c) Fitnah in the wealth and sons such as in the story of the 2 gardens; (d) Fitnah in Ilm (knowledge) as in the story between Musa as and Khidr; (e) Fitnah in Sulton (kingship) such as in the story of ZulQornain; (f) Fitnah in Strength and Power and numbers such as in the story of Yajuj and Ma'juj. And this surah explain the way to be save from all these fitan (plural of fitnah). As the cave protects the one who seeks shelter and protection in it (from rain, storm etc), this surah is also the protection from all this Fitan, and also the manifestation of all fitan- Dajjal, as the Prophet saw said that those memorise/take care of the 10 beginning ayats of this surah will be save from Dajjal.

  4. Munasabah 'ammah (general munasabah)
InshaAllah, this is a simple introduction of the ilm of Munasabah. For those who wants to know more about this branch of ilm, should start reading the tafseers and some books which directly talks on this subject.

And for serious tolibul ilm, you may start reading these books:
  1. أسرار التنزيل من جلال الدين السيوطي
  2. مراصد المطالع في تناسب المقاصد و المطالع من جلال الدين السيوطي
  3. الإتقان في علوم القرآن من جلال الدين السيوطي
  4. البرهان من الزركشي
  5. جواهر البيان في تناسب سور القرآن من أبو الفضل عبد الله بن محمد الصديق الغماري
Wallahualam. May Allah grant us knowledge. Allahumma zidna 'ilman nafi'an.

Al Faqir ilallah Abu Hanzolah Mohamad Zahri

 

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