The Qur'an and Its Study by Adnan Zarzour

Author:Adnan Zarzour [Abdur Raheem Kidwai]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780860377955
Publisher: Kube Publishing Ltd

Commentaries by Sufi Philosophers

Interpretation based on feelings was then infused, in many cases, with esoteric concepts or influenced by some philosophies that crept into Sufism. As a result, an extremist or philosophic Sufism came into existence, pioneered by people like al-Ḥallāj, al-Sahrawardi and ‘Abd al-Ḥaqq ibn Sab‘īn. Shaykh Muhammad ‘Abduh mentions this as he says of the interpretation based on feelings: ‘In this type of interpretation esoteric concepts are mixed up with Sufi ones.’517

The most important influences this type of Sufism left on the interpretation of the Qur’an are pantheism, Neo-Platonism and the so-called esoteric knowledge. Indeed, much of these Sufi interpretations were mixed up with esoteric explanations which were, and remain, prominent among the Ismaili Shia in particular. Ibn Khaldūn said: ‘The idea of union with God, which has been floated by some Sufis, was due to their mixing with the Ismailis who believed in such union and the divinity of the Imams. Each party took from the other and their theses and beliefs were mixed up and sounded alike.’518

We, therefore, need only to speak about esoteric interpretations, but we should note that the commentary attributed to Shaykh Muḥyī al-Dīn ibn ‘Arabī (died 638 AH/1241 CE) and published in two volumes, and also in the margin of al-Shirāzī’s ‘Arā’is al-Bayān, was actually written by ‘Abd al-Razzāq al-Qāshānī (died 730 AH/1333 CE).

Of this type of interpretation, where esoteric concepts are mixed up with Sufi ones, is ‘the commentary some attribute to the grand Shaykh Muḥyī al-Dīn ibn ‘Arabī, but was in fact written by al-Qāshānī, a well-known esoteric philosopher. It contains ideas that are clearly alien to God’s faith and His glorious Book.’519 We need not mention here the interpretation of Qur’anic verses that are included in Ibn ‘Arabī’s books, particularly Al-Futūḥāt al-Makiyyah and Fuṣūṣ al-Ḥikam. Ibn ‘Arabī himself disclaims believing in the concept of union with God.520 Moreover, the sections that occur in Al-Futūḥāt al-Makiyyah and may be taken as indicative of pantheism may have an appropriate explanation. Besides, they might not have been written by him in the first place.

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