❖ The Status of the Mutāʾawwil (One Who Interprets): Difference Between Taʾwīl and Apostasy
Written by: Imran Ayoob Lahori
◈ Mutāʾawwil Is Not a Murtadd
Imām al-Shawkānī (رحمه الله) said: The one who performs taʾwīl (interpretation) is not considered an apostate (murtadd).
Reference: السيل الجرار: 584/4 – 585
◈ Example from the Companions
When the verse was revealed:
الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَلَمْ يَلْبِسُوا إِيمَانَهُم بِظُلْمٍ [الأنعام: 82]
"Those who believe and do not mix their belief with injustice…"
The Companions interpreted (taʾwīl) it to mean general injustice and said:
"There is none among us who has not committed some injustice, so our salvation is difficult."
But the Messenger of Allah ﷺ clarified:
"It is not as you think. Rather, the ‘injustice’ here means what Luqmān said to his son:
يَا بُنَيَّ لَا تُشْرِكْ بِاللَّهِ ۖ إِنَّ الشِّرْكَ لَظُلْمٌ عَظِيمٌ [لقمان: 13]
"O my son! Do not associate partners with Allah. Verily, shirk is a great injustice."
Reference: بخاري: 6937
◈ Application in Creed
Similarly, if today someone interprets the Qur’ānic expression يَدُ اللهِ ("the Hand of Allah") to mean "the Power of Allah," he will not be declared a disbeliever or apostate.
Although such an interpretation is invalid, as long as he believes it sincerely as correct, he is not a murtadd.
However, if a person knows his interpretation is false yet persists in believing or propagating it, then he deserves to be called a kāfir and murtadd.
