The Golden Principle: Taking the Texts of the Quran and Sunnah Upon Their Apparent Meanings in Light of the Arabic Language
- Muiz As-Siddeeqi
- May 6
- 1 min read
The Golden Principle: Taking the Texts of the Quran and Sunnah Upon Their Apparent Meanings in Light of the Arabic Language
By al-ʿAllāmah ʿUbayd al-Jābirī (رحمه الله):
This principle, as clarified by the explainer (رحمه الله), is that it is obligatory concerning the texts related to Allah’s Names and Attributes to accept and pass them upon their apparent meanings in accordance with the Arabic language.
This principle is not limited to matters of ʿaqīdah (belief), but is general — it applies even to practical rulings (ahkām ʿamaliyyah).
So, O student of knowledge, if you wish to derive a ruling from the texts, and you encounter someone disputing your conclusion or your use of the evidence — then place this principle before him:
What is the fundamental rule regarding the texts?
The answer is: The fundamental rule is to take their apparent, immediately understood meanings according to the Arabic language as used when unqualified.
The proof from Sūrah al-Aʿrāf is clear. The evidence is the verse:
{And do not say about Allah what you do not know} [Sūrah al-Aʿrāf, 7:33].
So, diverting the Qur’anic verses and prophetic hadiths from their apparent meanings is included in speaking about Allah and His Messenger ﷺ without knowledge.
Therefore, it is obligatory to maintain the meanings of all texts — especially those concerning the Attributes — upon their apparent sense.
[Source: Tabsīr Dhawī ar-Rashād bi-Taʿlīq ʿalā Sharḥ Lumʿat al-Iʿtiqād, pp. 8–9]
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