Q: Respected Madrassah Taleemuddeen Isipingo.
I came across your recent write up against the well renowned Shaykh-ul-Arab wal-Ajam, Mufti Taqi Uthmani Saheb حفظه الله تعالي, أطال الله عمركم وبقائكم بالصحة والعافية.
What you have written about Mufti Saheb and his views on Islamic finance is completely understandable and raises valid concerns that must be addressed; more importantly, the average layman may also need to be made aware of this.
However, the most recent rebuttal wrote agaisnt the Respected Mufti Saheb, regarding Mufti Saheb attempting to conform the Qur'an to the big bang theory.
These were your words, as quoted directly from your refutation:
"It is therefore most disturbing that Mufti Taqi Saheb and others have attempted to make the Qur'an Shareef conform to the Big Bang theory, whereas this theory completely contradicts what is mentioned in the Qur'an and Ahaadith."
Upon cross-referencing this with The Noble Qur'an translated by Hadhrat Mufti Taqi Usmani Saheb, we find the following footnote under the relevant verse:
1. "The author has explained the interpretation of this verse as adopted by many authorities. But the miraculous style of the Holy Qur'an is that the words used by it may have different possibilities for interpretation. The words ratq and fatq used here have another meaning, which is 'being compact' and 'being separated'. If these words are taken in this sense, the verse may also be translated as, "The heavens and the earth were compact, then We separated them." In this case the verse will refer to an event of the early creation, meaning thereby that the heavens and the earth were originally a single body. Thereafter Allah separated the earth from the heavens. The contemporary research about the Big Bang is close to this description. But it should always be kept in mind that the Qur'anic descriptions are independent of any scientific theory and the Qur'an should not be made subject to ever-changing theories."
From this, I myself and many other Ulama were not able to ascertain that Hadhrat Mufti Taqi Saheb has tried to conform the big bang theory with the Qur'an. Moreover, it seems as if Mufti Saheb is not trying to force the Qur'an to conform to the Big Bang theory. In fact, his own words explicitly caution against doing that.
Therefore, we have come to 2 conclusions:
1. We have not been able to find where Mufti Saheb has said such things, and we are looking in the wrong Kitaab. If this is the case, we humbly request that you guide us to the right Kitaab.
2. Taleemuddeen Isipingo have erred and attributed a false claim to the honourable Mufti Saheb. If this is the case, then we urge you to retract your statement and rectify what you have said. This was the way of the Akaabir of the Ulama of Deoband. More importantly, you should also seek forgiveness from Mufti Saheb.
We hope that you will respond as soon as possible and provide much-needed clarification.
A: The excerpt is from the Qur'aan translation of Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani Sahib as in the attached photos.
The excerpt quoted in your email appears in the footnotes of the English version of Ma`ariful Quraan.
While that may be the case, however, the footnote in "The Noble Qur'aan" is ambiguous. And especially in this day and time when atheism is rampant and widespread, an unwary reader of this footnote is very likely to understand that such a flawed theory is supported by this aayat of the Quraan.
The disastrous effect that it can then have on such a person's imaan and faith needs no explanation.
Kindly find attached an article of The Majlis as well.
And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.
Answered by:
