Surat Al-Fajr in the Interpretation of Al-Hakim Al-Jashmi (494 AH): An Objective Study

Abstract

Before the advent of Islam, the Arabs were clearly misguided and divided into separate tribes, lacking unity. This state of disarray persisted until Allah Almighty sent them the Messenger (may Allah’s prayers and peace be upon him) and revealed to them the Holy Qur’an to guide them to the straight path. They adhered to the book of their Lord and the Sunnah (i.e., the traditions and practices) of their Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). However, after a period of time, specifically in the second century after the Prophet’s migration to Medina, divisions in Islamic theology, known as “Kalam” (scholastic theology), began to emerge. Among these divisions arose the Mu'tazili group, which adopted a rational approach to proving Islamic beliefs, asserting that reason took precedence over revelation. They challenged authentic prophetic hadiths when these contradicted their rational doctrine, argued that the Qur’an is created, and held other such views. One of their scholars, Al-Hakim Al-Jashmi, articulated this approach in his commentary. This paper examines some of their beliefs as reflected in his interpretation of Surat Al-Fajr.