والعصر Quran 103:1

[Umer]

Please see the book “A Study of the Quranic Oaths” posted in the following thread in order to understand Imam Hamiduddin Farahi’s understanding in this regard along with his arguments:

Discussion 1802

[A Hasan]

I have studied this- but I feel that this ayah could go both ways. Unless there is a larger context behind it. I think verse three shows that this is probably to do with itmam e hujjat as Ghamidi sahab says

[Umer]

If you have read the book then I’m sure that you understand that there’s no reason for God to swear by things He himself has created. Also with other linguistic and common sense arguments provided in the book, this ayah can only be translated one way.

[A Hasan]

But for example in surah take it God swears by the dawn and the night as a ‘They bear witness’ oath.

So it’s an argumentative oath.

Sorry I don’t get your point about God swearing in things he himself created. God created time and for example the dawn.

[Umer]

There’s no swearing in the Quran by the dawn and the night. Those are empirical evidences provided by God for the point that He’s making in the next ayahs of surah Al-Fajr (89).

Once again I suggest that you read the book with patience and try to understand what’s being communicated. If you still disagree, then of course it’s human interpretation and it has room for errors and improvement. However, I am completely convinced that after understanding the arguments and evidence provided by Imam Farahi, there’s no other way that this ayah can be translated.

[A Hasan]

Oh I think then it’s just me misunderstanding what you meant. I guess people call it an oath by its what the book refers to as an argumentative oath (you said empirical evidence). It’s basically saying ‘the dawn bears witness’.

👍