Sufi believes that the Qur’an has exoteric and esoteric meanings. He tries to renounce the exoteric meaning of the Qur’anin order to perceive the esoteric meaning. Abd al-Razzaq Kashani is one of those interpreters who, in mystical interpretation, goes beyond the exoteric meaning of the verses of the Qur’an and interprets the verses esoterically (Ta’wil) so as to apprehend its mysteries. His book is called Ta’wilat of the Qur’an, which is mistakenly attributed to Ibn Arabi. It is replete with Ta’wils which are apprehended just by elite, who edify the self and observe the excellences of the disposition, and common people don’t have the ability of perception, because Ta’wils are illuminated within allusions, and a symbol is established for every word of the Qur’an. The present paper aims to specify the symbols by defining the word Ta’wil, and then explaining the Ta’wil of verses of the Qur’an as well as the traditions.
Source: Journal of Islamic Studies and Culture
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