Lately, many non-Muslims have attempted to interpret the Qur’an to suit their needs. This, of course, has always been done by a minority of Muslims who seek to distort the true understanding of Islam. To some people, it might seem strange to think that there are not “different interpretations” of the Qur’an. In a few verses, there are one or two different interpretations, but in all cases, the meanings are well known by all schools of thought. New interpretations simply do not arise and are sometimes forbidden.
The reason for this is that most of the commentary on the Qur’an is from the Prophet himself (may Allah bless him and grant him peace). This differs sharply from other religions. Most religions include the sayings of their prophets/leaders within their holy scriptures. In Islam, the Prophet’s teachings (hadith) are separated and evaluated according to the truthfulness of the people narrating the traditions.
Nevertheless, the Prophet was sinless (ma’sum), so the words he uttered were binding for all Muslims. His interpretation of the Qur’an is therefore THE interpretation, and there is no room for new readings.
This reality provides Muslims with a level of understanding and clarity of the Qur’an that allows them to produce definitive proof of concepts using contextual and traditional evidence. Such clarity is minimal, if not entirely absent, from other religions. Added to the prophetic commentary on the Qur’an is enlightening discourses from the Imams of Ahlul-bayt (peace be upon them), which are also timeless and inerrant.
Therefore, if someone’s new interpretation of the Qur’an sharply contrasts with the traditional interpretations of all Muslim schools of thought, one can easily and confidently dismiss it as conjecture.
Amir-ul-Mu`minin ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him) said to a judge: “”Do you know the difference between those verses of the Qur’an which abrogate and those which are abrogated?”
Judge: “No.”
Ali: “Do you have a command of the intentions of Allah in the parables of the Qur’an?”
Judge: ‘No‘.
Ali: “Then you have perished and caused others to perish“
