Ali Ibn Abi Talib - Volume 1 of 2

100 'Ali ibn Abi Ttlib in Makkah
getting married. He combined the verse (The mothers shall give suck
to their children for two whole years8 (Qur'an 2: 233) with another
verse, (and the bearing of him, and the weaning of him is thirty
months), (Qur'an 46: 15) and said: Pregnancy (bearing) is six months,
and weaning is twenty-four months.'47 In other words, he subtracted
the period of breastfeeding, which is two years, from the total period
of breastfeeding and pregnancy, which is thirty months, which left
six months. Thus he combined the apparent meaning of both verses
and ruled accordingly.'48
3.5.2. Interpreting verses that are general in meaning
on the basis of those that are clear and specific
Verses that are general in meaning are those in which the
meaning is ambiguous and cannot be understood except by means of
further explanation.'49 Clear verses are those in which the meaning is
apparent, without any need for explanation.'50 'Ali interpreted the
general meaning of the Qur'an in the verse (an offering, brought to
the Ka'bah) (Qur'an 5: 95) in the light of other verses that explained
it. It was narrated that a man asked 'Ali(4)
about the offering -
what kind of animal was it? He said: Eight head of cattle in pairs. It is
as if the man was not sure, so 'Ali (&) said to him: Do you read the
Qur'an? He said: Yes. 'Ali (&) said: Have you heard the verse in
which Allah (s) says, (0 you who believe! Fulfil [your]
obligations. Lawful to yon [for food] are all the beasts of cattle)
(Qur'an 5: l)? He said: Yes. 'Ali(&) said: Have you heard the verse
in which Allah (g) says, BAnd of the cattle [are some] for burden
[like camel] and [some are] small [unable to carry burden like sheep
and goats for food, meat, mik and wool]. Eat of what Allah bas
provided for (Qur'an 6: 142)? He said: Yes. 'Ali (&) said:
Have yon heard the verse in which Allah (&) says, (of the sheep two
[male and female], and of the goats two [male and female]. Say: "Has