PROPHETIC TRADITIONS - THE SECOND MAJOR SOURCE FOR QURANIC EXEGESIS

Abstract

There were several duties for the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) after he was made the Messenger and after the Qur’an was revealed to him. To some of those duties the following verse indicates: --- and send amongst them a Messenger of their own who shall recite to them Your verses, and teach them the Book and wisdom, and purify them ---“ (2:129). According to the following duty of teaching the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) used to teach and explain the Holy Qur’an to his companions. The companions in turn kept on preserving his sayings regarding the explanation of the Qur’an as they did with his sayings regarding other issues.Hazrat ‘Aisha the wife of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and the Great scholar of the Qur’an said about the morals and characters of his husband and the Prophet of Islam (PBUH): His morals were the Qur’an itself”. It means that he was a living and moving shape of the Qur’an.In the light of above indications it is crystal clear that the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was the living explanation of the contents of the Qur’an so he explained it either through his sayings or through his acts and deeds. Thus the whole sayings or acts of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) proved to be the explanation of the Qur’an. Keeping this reality in view the writer has studied the whole treasure of the Hadith analytically and discussed the duty of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) for explanation of the Qur’an and primary and secondary sources of this pious duty pointing out different aspects of the explanation of the Qur’an by the Hadith; Qur’anic words, Qur’anic terms, Qur’anic notions, Qur’anic thoughts and even valuable points and conclusions the Prophet (PBUH) made through pondering upon this Holy Book.