Seraje Monir

Criticism and Study of the Opinions of Commentators about the Word " Taqweem" in the Fourth Verse of Surah At-Tin

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Mohammad Sharifi 1
mohammad maktoobian 2

1 Associate Professor, Faculty of Theology, Department of Qur’an and Hadith Sciences, Yazd University, Yazd, Iran

2 Department of Quran and Hadith Sciences, Mazandaran University

https://doi.org/10.22054/ajsm.2025.59431.1686
Abstract
Extended Abstract

Introduction

Although the words used in the Holy Quran are clear in Arabic, God's intention in some of them is not clear to the audience and has become a source of debate among commentators. One of these words is the word "Taqweem" in combination with "Ahsan al-Taqweem" in the fourth verse of Surah At-Tin, God says in this verse: “We have certainly created man in the best of stature”. Commentators have disagreed about what God means by "the best of timing" in this verse. Is creation physical or is it both? In each of these two cases, what is meant by "Asfal al-Safilin" mentioned in the following verses? If "Asfal al-Safilin" means "the period of old age," is it consistent with the physical creation of man or with the creation in general? This article has an introduction and three chapters. In the first chapter, the meaning of the word "Taqweem" in the dictionary is examined. In the second chapter, in addition to expressing the opinions of commentators about the word "human" in the fourth verse of Surah At-Tin, two combinations "Ahsan al-Taqim" and "Asfal al-Safilin" are explained. In the third chapter, the commentators' statements are reviewed and the results and conclusions of the discussions, the last discussion raised in this article, are presented.

Literature Review

As far as the authors have investigated, no article or thesis has been written on this subject;
Only Muhammad Hussein Helmi, in a two-page text entitled "We have created man in the best of moulds," has provided explanations about the wonders of creation, and has not said anything about the views of commentators on this verse. (Halmi, 1391 AH)

Methodology

The present study, using a descriptive-analytical method, has reviewed and criticized the opinions of commentators about this word in the fourth verse of Surah At-Tin.

Discussion

If verses 4 and 5 of Surah At-Tin are considered together, “We have created man in the best of formation (4), then We have returned him to the lowest of the low (5),” four possibilities can be stated for the meaning and intent of these verses: 1"Ahsan al-Taqweem": apparent creation - Asfal al-Saflin: old age 2- "Ahsan al-Taqweem": apparent creation - Asfal al-Saflin: hell fire; 3- "Ahsan al-Taqweem": external and internal creation - Asfal al-Saflin: old age; 4"Ahsan al-Taqweem": external and internal creation - Asfal al-Saflin: the fire of hell. Of these four possibilities, numbers one and four are more likely and can be investigated, and the other two possibilities are more likely and do not have many supporters.

Conclusion

Commentators have offered different opinions on the word "Taqweem". The reason for the disagreement among commentators is the ambiguity that exists in this term, and this ambiguity must be eliminated with the help of intra-textual and extra-textual evidence. The intratextual evidence includes: the combination of "asfal al-saflin" mentioned in the fifth verse, the letter "illa" mentioned in the sixth verse, and the seventh verse of this sura; Therefore, if the combination of "Asfal al-Safilin" means "age period" and the letter "illa" is a discontinuous exception, "Taqweem" will mean "apparent creation"; but if "Asfal al-Safilin" means "Hellfire" and the letter "illa" is connected an exception, then "Taqweem" means "outward and inward creation". Considering the use of the phrase "the best of the stature", the context and verbal context of verses 4 to 7, and the appearance of the letter "except" in the connection, the second aspect is more powerful. However, considering the narrations mentioned for the first aspect, as well as the opinions of some commentators, it can be said that in this verse, according to the rule of "using a word in the majority of its meaning," God has intended both meanings simultaneously. That is, at the same time, she intended the first meaning, in which "the best Taqweem" means "the apparent creation," "Asfal al-Safilin" means "the period of old age," and the word "illa" is a discontinuous exception and means comprehension. And she intended the second meaning, which is "the best Taqweem" meaning "the outward and inward creation, "Asfal al-Safilin" meaning "the fire of hell," and the letter "illa" is a connected exception and means an exception.

Keywords

Asfal Al-Safilin
Moderation
Taqweem
Surah At-Tin
The Views of the Commentators of Both Sects
Subjects
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Seraje Monir
Volume 15, Issue 49
Summer 2024
Pages 295-321

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