Explanation

For that reason, the one who exerts ijtihād (independent juristic effort) and makes a mistake still earns a reward, whereas the one who does not exert ijtihād—although his statement may coincide with the truth—has nonetheless erred if the matter in discussion admits no ijtihād at all.

At times, interpreting the Quran by mere opinion means interpreting it according to one’s own sectarian inclination, as the people of passions do. Such a person claims that this or that verse intends a meaning that neatly fits his doctrine. The same is true of those later writers who read into the Quran the astronomical or earthly sciences they have recently discovered when the Quran does not indicate them—neither by explicit text nor by the rules of Arabic. In that case they have interpreted the Quran by their personal opinions, and it is impermissible to do so.

Likewise, if a person possesses no grasp of the linguistic meaning or the legal meaning by which the verse is to be explained, yet still speaks without knowledge, he is sinful. This resembles a layperson who explains a verse of the Noble Quran according to his own understanding with no linguistic or juristic basis; that is unlawful. The one who interprets the Quran is, in effect, bearing witness before Allah that He intended a given meaning—an extremely grave matter, for Allah has forbidden us to speak about Him without knowledge: “Say, ‘My Lord has only forbidden indecencies—both open and hidden—and sin, and transgression without right, and that you associate with Allah that for which He sent down no authority, and that you say about Allah what you do not know.’” (7:33). Anyone who speaks about Allah without knowledge, whether regarding the meaning of His words or any of His rulings, has committed a tremendous error.

In the same way, Allah the Exalted branded those who hurl accusations of fornication as liars, saying: “So if they do not bring…"