Question
In one of your articles you have stated that the word “mathani” in 15:87 signifies something that occurs in pairs. You seem to hold that it refers to the seven groups of the Qur’anic surahs which occur in pairs in the Qur’an. But the majority of the early and contemporary commentators opine that it refers to AI–Fatihah. There are also traditions in the canonical hadith works which ascribe the following statement to the Prophet (sws): Narrated by Abu Said Al-Mualla: While I was praying, the Prophet passed by and called me, but I did not go to him till I had finished my prayer. When I went to him, he said, “What prevented you from coming?” I said, “I was praying.” He said, “Didn’t Allah say” “O you who believes Give your response to Allah (by obeying Him) and to His Apostle.” (8.24) Then he added, “Shall I tell you the most superior Sura in the Qur’an before I go out of the mosque?” When the Prophet intended to go out (of the Mosque), I reminded him and he said, “That is: “Alhamdu–lillahi Rabbil–‘Alamin (Surat–al–fatiha)’ which is the seven of repeated verses (Al–Mathani) and the Grand Quran which has been given to me.” (Shahi Bukhari)
Answer
I see no problem or contradiction with these narratives and the way we have interpreted the term sab‘an min al-mathani. These authentic narratives say that Surah Fatihah is sab‘an min al-mathani and the Great Qur’an . The reason is not because it has seven verses (which obviously it does not); on the contrary, the reason, it seems, is that Surah Fatihah epitomises the Qur’an, and, as such, can be taken as the Qur’an in miniature. It is this character of the surah that these narratives seek to bring out.
Answered by: Dr. Shehzad Saleem
Date: 2015-02-11
