2. Is the Qur’ān not Sufficient?
The Qur'ānisthe fundamentalbasisforeverykindofIslamic concept.
Likeamightyrock,allthefruitfulbuildingsofIslamicknowledgehave
beenmadesteadyonit.Itistheclearspringfromwhichallthestreams
of insight flow.The credibility andprestige of otherreligious founda-
tions rest on it.
But, onthe basis of the proofs we shall give,one cannotbe content
with the Qur'ān alone to solve the problems of leadership, the differ-
ences which crop up in Islamic society, or to satisfy the needs of the
Muslims people.
1.FirstlybecausetheQur'ānanditsgreatandabundantcontentsneed
commentaryandexplanation.Sincealltheversesarenotalikeinclarity,
unacquaintedreadersinthefirstmomentsoftheirjourneymaybecome
lost and not take the path to their destination.
SotheProphethimselforthoseappointedbyhimwhohaveaspiritual
linkwithwhatisbeyondtheexternalworld,mustbeaguideinthisval-
leyalso, sothat they can interpret andexplainthe Qur'ānic verses ac-
cordingtoAllāh'spurpose.Forifnot,ordinarypeoplewillsometimesin-
terpretincorrectlyandwillendupfarfromthetruth.TheProphethim-
selfhas said,“Anyonewho interpretsthe Qur'ānaccordingto hisown
opinions will have a place in the Fire.”
It isrecountedthat athief wasbroughtinto the presence ofthe Ab-
basid caliph Mutasim sothat hemight be punished according to the punishment prescribed in the Qur'ān. The command of the Qur'ān is: “Cutoffthehandofathief.”ButMutasimdidnotknowfromwherethe
hand should be cut. He asked his Sunni `ulama.
One of them said, “From the wrist.”
“From the elbow,” another said.Mu`tasimwasnotsatisfied.He wasforced toaskImamMuhammad
at-Taqi(a.s.),theninthShi‘a Imam,who waspresentin thatgathering.
The Imam replied,
“Only four fingers must be cut off.”