The Quran Explains Itself

The first and best source: The first source of Tafsir is the Quran itself. Imam Ali (as) said in Nahj al-Balagha (Sermon 133), "Indeed, the Quran interprets parts of itself through other parts." One part of the Quran explains another part.

Why this source is the best: There are four reasons. First, divine consistency: the same Author revealed the whole Quran, so a word used unclearly in one place is used clearly in another. Second, no chain problems: using the Quran to interpret the Quran needs no checking of narrators — the text itself is mutawatir (mass-transmitted). Third, the Imams (as) used this method: Imam Ali (as), Imam Baqir (as), and Imam Sadiq (as) constantly said, "This verse is explained by that verse." Fourth, Allamah Tabataba'i perfected it in Tafsir al-Mizan, reading the whole Quran as one unified conversation.

How the Quran describes itself: The Quran says about itself in Surah Hud (11:1), "A Book whose verses are perfected — then elaborated." And in Surah Al-Nisa (4:82), "Had it been from other than Allah, they would have found much contradiction in it." No contradiction means one part can safely explain another.

How it works in practice: The method has three simple steps. First, find a word or idea that is unclear in verse A. Second, search the whole Quran for other places where the same word or root appears. Third, the clear use in verse B lights up the unclear use in verse A.

Example

In Surah Al-Fatiha (1:6) we pray, "Guide us to the Straight Path" — but what IS the Straight Path? The Quran answers itself in Surah Al-Nisa (4:69): "The path of those Allah blessed — the Prophets, the Truthful, the Martyrs, and the Righteous." The Quran defines its own central idea. We did not need any outside book to find the answer.

Key Terms

• Tafsir al-Quran bil-Quran (تفسیر القرآن بالقرآن) — interpreting the Quran through the Quran itself
• Mutawatir (متواتر) — a text transmitted by so many people that it cannot be false
• Muhkam (محکم) — a clear, firm verse with one meaning
• Al-Mizan (المیزان) — "The Balance"; Allamah Tabataba'i's great Tafsir, built on this method

Quran or Hadith

Quran, Surah Al-Nisa 4:82 — "Had it been from other than Allah, they would have found much contradiction in it." — to be checked. Because the Quran has no contradiction, one verse can safely explain another.

Quran, Surah Al-Nisa 4:69 — "The path of those Allah blessed — the Prophets, the Truthful, the Martyrs, and the Righteous." — to be checked. This verse answers Surah Al-Fatiha 1:6: the Straight Path is the path of these blessed people.

Fresh diagram to be drawn: Two verses side by side with an arrow between them — one verse asks a question, the other verse answers it — labelled "The Quran explains itself".