What is Ta’wīl (Interpretation)?
Source: Fatāwā Amun Pūrī by Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amun Pūrī
The Question
What is the meaning of ta’wīl?
The Answer
Shaykh al-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah (728H) explained that ta’wīl has been understood in three different ways:
① Ta’wīl in the terminology of later scholars (muta’akhkhirīn)
- It means: turning a word away from its stronger apparent meaning to a weaker meaning due to some evidence.
- According to them, the obvious, literal meaning is not called ta’wīl.
- They claim that Allah intended ta’wīl in this sense, and that the apparent meanings of scriptural texts have hidden interpretations known only to Allah or to those who interpret.
- Some later scholars said the texts should be kept on their apparent meanings, but they also added that such texts have ta’wīl beyond the apparent, known only to Allah.
- Even followers of the four Imāms among so-called Ahl al-Sunnah fell into this contradictory position.
② Ta’wīl according to the majority of exegetes (jumhūr mufassirīn)
- Ta’wīl means tafṣīr (explanation) of a statement, whether it agrees with the apparent meaning or not.
- According to this understanding, the “firmly grounded in knowledge” also know the ta’wīl.
- This view matches the position of the Salaf who stopped at Allah’s words:
﴿وَمَا يَعْلَمُ تَأْوِيلَهُ إِلَّا اللَّهُ ۗ وَالرَّاسِخُونَ فِي الْعِلْمِ﴾ (Āl ʿImrān: 7)
“None knows its interpretation except Allah, and those firmly grounded in knowledge.”
③ Ta’wīl as used in the Qur’an and Sunnah
- Here it refers to the ultimate reality or outcome of what is spoken of, even if one already knows the apparent meaning.
- For example, descriptions of Paradise’s food, drink, garments, marriage, and the coming of the Day of Judgment — their ta’wīl refers to their actual realities, not just mental concepts or words.
Examples:
- ﴿هَٰذَا تَأْوِيلُ رُؤْيَايَ﴾ (Yūsuf: 100)
“This is the interpretation (fulfilment) of my dream of old; my Lord has made it come true.” - ﴿هَلْ يَنظُرُونَ إِلَّا تَأْوِيلَهُ ۚ يَوْمَ يَأْتِي تَأْوِيلُهُ﴾ (al-Aʿrāf: 53)
“Do they await anything but its final fulfilment? On the Day its fulfilment comes…” - ﴿فَرُدُّوهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَالرَّسُولِ … ذَٰلِكَ خَيْرٌ وَأَحْسَنُ تَأْوِيلًا﴾ (al-Nisāʾ: 59)
“Refer it back to Allah and His Messenger… that is best and most suitable for final determination.”
This type of ta’wīl is known only to Allah.
(al-Fatwā al-Ḥamawiyyah al-Kubrā: 1/287–290)
Additional Note (Fāʾidah)
Ḥāfiẓ al-Khaṭṭābī (388H) said:
“The one who makes ta’wīl (interpretation) does not leave the fold of Islam, even if he errs in his interpretation.”
(Maʿālim al-Sunan: 4/295)
Conclusion
- Ta’wīl has multiple usages:
① In later terminology: diverting from the apparent meaning.
② Among the majority of mufassirīn: synonymous with tafsīr.
③ In Qur’an and Sunnah: the actual reality or fulfilment of what is spoken of. - Mistaken ta’wīl does not expel a person from Islam, though it may still be incorrect.
