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May 5, 2008
the literalists
The literalist approach to the Qur'an shows the intellectual weakness and limitation of those who adhere to it. This could be due to the dominance of the external laws over them and the deficiency in their understanding to perceive the intention of the Qur'an and the mysteries of the verses. So, what overtakes them while listening to the inner meaning of the Qur'an is like what overtakes the eyes of bats when the rays of light fall on them. The greatest calamity, of which man is unaware but keeps him from perceiving the deeper truths of the Qur'an, is caused by man's arrogant adherence to the literal meaning of the Scripture only. If such a person claims that there is no other meaning of the Qur'an except what is given in the literal exegesis of the Qur'an, then he gives information of the limit of his self, and he is right in that. But he has erred in relegating all the people to the level of his understanding that is his habitation, his station, his limit and his foothold. And how can the state of a traveller, rather, of a flier be compared with the state of one who is stationary? Nay, the chronicles and reports indicate that the field of meanings of the Qur'an is vast for the traveling of the people of understanding, and its space is vast for the flight of the companions of yearning and ecstasy.
Mulla Sadra
Posted by amin at May 5, 2008 11:45 PM