We begin in the name of Allah the Exalted. May Allah bless and grant peace to the leader of the Creation Muhammad ﷺ, and on his Family and Companions until the Day of Judgment. We ask Allah to keep us away from knowledge that is not beneficial, and may increase us in (useful) knowledge that will be an adornment for us in this world and the next.
The subject of this article surrounds the question of who can make Tafseer of the Qur'an, or more specifically what are the prerequisites for those who engage in Tafseer of the Qur'an.
o To begin with, the aim of Usool at-Tafseer (the principles of the science of Qur'anic exegesis) is to facilitate the understanding of the Glorious Qur'an. It lays down the general principles and rules needed in order for the exegetes to make healthy commentaries on the Qur'an.
o There are a number of texts that can be used in order to study the principles of Usool at-Tafseer and make use of such principles. Examples of such works are 'Aql Wa Fahmul Qur'an' by Haarith al-Muhaasibi, Funuun al-Afnaan by Ibn al-Jawzi, al-Burhaan fi Uloom al-Qur'an by Az-Zarkashi, al-Kafeeji's At-Tayseer fi Qawaa'id 'Ilm at-Tafseer, and Al-Itqaan fi Uloom al-Qur'an by as-Suyuuti. This is in addition to the primary sources taken as Muqaddimaat (introductions) in exegesis such as at-Tabari's Jaami'ul Bayaan 'an Ta'wil al-Qur'aan, Ar-Raaghib al-Isfahaani's Muqaddima at-Tafseer, Al-Jami li Ahkaam al-Qur'aan by al-Qurtubi, Gharaaibul Qur'aan wa Raghaaibul Furqaan by An-Naysaaburi, Bahrul Muheet by Abu Hayaaan, Anwaar al-Haqaaiq ar-Rabaaniyya by Abu ath-Thanaa al-Isfahaani, Tafseer al-Qur'aan al-Adheem by Ibn Katheer, and Ruhul Ma'aani by al-Aluusi (Rahimahumullah).
o Muslims have been trying to understand the Qur'aan and make commentaries on the Qur'aan from the beginning of Islam. But these have in many cases been falling off the mark, since every Mufassir (exegete) is somehow biased, due to his limited knowledge, his experience, and the temporal and environmental factors he has been living in.
o We have to consider that people find new discoveries in all the sciences, and these, due to the changing lifestyles and environments may be used to interpret the Qur'an in a new (some would say different) way. It is possible that through this, some of the Mutashaabihaat Verses (the ambiguous Verses) may become clearer. Also, new methods and projects have to come up in order to meet the needs of people. We also need to study the reason why some Verses were revealed connected to certain specific people and events, while others were revealed as main governing principles of the religion.
o Anyway, if we follow this attitude, it would also put the pursuit of fame and the following of one's desires at a minimum, and we would get the blessings of being with the Jamaa'ah (the community of Muslims).
o Now, there should be in our endeavors for Qur'anic interpretation an effort to establish a connection between the following five: (1) Allah the Exalted, who is the sender of the Message (2) The Prophet ﷺ, the Infallible Messenger who first receives the message (3) The Human; that is, the general masses who are to take benefit from the Message (4) Siyaaq-Sibaaq (the relationship between the words, the verses and the context of the Message) and (5) Tafseer (the understanding of this Message).
o Understanding the information happens through the use of healthy sensory perceptions, which are in turn processed by the 'Aql [the mind] to come to a conclusion. So we need to ask questions such as: "How healthy and unbiased are our perceptions?", and "Does our emotion overcome our 'Aql?".
o So these questions are important in order for us to understand the context. When we ask the question "What is the text telling us?", the answer will give us the context behind the text, and whether we have understood the text and the overall meaning without any bias, or whether some bias has entered our understanding.
o The third set of questions is connected to the primary target audience, and who this primary audience is. And then we have one final question, "When and where is this text being 'spoken'?" With these questions, we will take the (first) steps towards understanding the Qur'anic message in the best possible manner.
o The above shows that there is a difference between what the text says and what the intended meaning is. The people from the Mu'tazila group called this 'Muwadda' and 'Qasdul Mutakallim', while the Sunni scholar ash-Shaatibi (Rahimahullah) called it the 'Dhaahir-Baatin' reading styles. This second element focuses on the question of what the targeted meaning in the background is supposed to be. We see then, that what we are talking about in here are the differences between the apparent [Lafdhi] meaning and the inward meaning.
o We need to know some "surface sciences" (that is, elementary sciences) in order to understand the apparent meaning of the Qur'an. And these are sciences such as Lughatul Qur'aan [analysis of the words], I'raabul Qur'an [related to the study of the position of words in a sentence], Qiraa'aat [the distinct modes of Qur'anic recitation], the 'Uloom of Ma'aani-Bayaan-Badee' [different branches of Arabic Balaaghah or rhetoric] and the topic of I'jaazul Qur'aan [the miraculous nature of the Qur'aan], etc.
o However, this type of understanding is superficial, and does not explain the (deeper) intended meaning of the Verse, but simply tells us what the Verse says. The most famous example of this type of exegesis is Tafseer al-Jalaalayn by as-Suyuuti [d.911/1505] and al-Mahalli [d.864/1459], as well as the work of Sufyaan ath-Thawri (d.161/778), Yahya bin Sallam (d.200/815), Yahya ibn Ziyaad al-Farra (207/822), and Abu 'Ubaydah Ma'mar bin al-Muthanna (d. 209/824) (Rahimahumullah).
o It should be pointed out that by no means is this type of Lafdhi Tafseer unimportant. We should note that without understanding the literal meaning it is not possible to know the inward significations behind the Verses. There should be a dialectical relationship between the general and the specific [the Juz and the Kull] so that we may understand the intended meaning through an analysis of each and every word, as a type of bottom-up logical process. Of course, this process usually occurs naturally, since we first understand the text literally, and this is an ontological fact. All this effort that we put into the apparent meanings is in order to understand the intended (deeper) meaning of the Qur'an.
o This final aim of ours, of bringing out the inner meaning of the Qur'aan, is something like taking the pearl out of its shell. However, one cannot reach this at all without knowing the literal meaning, which furthermore means the understanding of these aforementioned elementary sciences. Thus, the literal reading is a vehicle that will take us to the true intended meaning. But we can never get to the target without a vehicle. The analogy is that the Qur'an is an ocean and we are in a boat, and we will need to dive deep in order to bring out the pearls. Our goal is not to stay on the surface. Of course, by just reading the Qur'an, and understanding the literal meaning, we do reach a certain position, but this is just like going around the beach and collecting pebbles, rather than diving into the ocean and taking out the pearls. Unfortunately, many of us have become so superficial that our ultimate goal has become these pebbles and this surface.
o Thus, this type of reading firstly goes from specific to general and then from general to specific, in order to understand the intended inward meaning. It aims at either the Haqeeqi (literal) or Majaazi (metaphorical) significations as per the intended meaning permeating the text, and is not limited to the Mawdhu'i [topical meaning], but rather extends out and looks at the Verses from an Ijmaali [overall] viewpoint as well, that is, from a wider perspective.
o We can see this with an example. If we consider Surah al-Baqarah: 189 literally, we see that it was revealed due to a question about the new moon. Now, the moon is a time scale, a clock for people when it goes through its different phases, which gives rise to the Qamari calendar. Another topic covered in this Verse concerns the habit of Arabs in Ihraam to enter their houses from the back, and this practice was erased in this Verse.
o Through this literal reading we come to understand the elementary, literal meaning. But the inward meaning encompasses the necessity to be aware of one's responsibilities and to have Taqwa of Allah, and not to enter the 'house' through different doors (paying too much attention to the outward) – but rather to look inward and to correct one's self. Asking about the moon is like paying more attention to the apparent outward qualities rather than the underlying message intended in the answer of Allah the Exalted. The literal meaning is obviously correct, but without understanding the inward significations we will only be superficial in our understanding of this Verse.
o So having said this, we will proceed to focus on the inward reading, as this is the preferred method for the commentary of the Qur'an. We will move beyond the literal understanding, in order to go deep into the Qur'an. So let us talk about four very important principles needed in order to grasp this inward understanding.
o First of all, one's language, his tongue, is not separated from one's thinking. Rather, they are very much related. One's thinking becomes materialized through the tongue, which culminates in one's language. The tongue and thinking are interconnected just like the flesh and the bones, the letter and the envelope. Moreover, language is also related to culture, customs, and civilization. Language grows through the experiences of a civilization and hides a history of the culture within itself – a brief history of the people can be seen in their language.
o For example, by reading the poetry of the early Arab poets such as Imru' Al-qays (d. 565), Taraafi (d. 569), 'Antarah (d. 608), Zuhayr bin Abi Sulma (609), and Labeed (d.41/661), this can tell us something about the culture of the early Arabs. For example, we see the names of idols in their poems [and this shows their centrality to life in the pre-Islamic period].
o Thus, in order to understand the evolution of language one needs to consider the formation and evolution of that over a certain period of time. When it comes to understanding the Qur'an this is even more important, since we must be very careful not to fall into misunderstandings.
o Now, Arabic has certain core linguistic traits, and these are classified under Sarf, Nahw, and Balagha [morphology, grammar, and rhetoric, respectively] and one cannot understand the language properly without knowing these branches of Arabic language and literature. Needless to say that without Arabic, one cannot understand the Holy Qur'an.
o Sarf is the change in the formation and morphology of words with respect to the required meaning. Ishtiqaaq is a subset of Sarf, and this science studies the relationship between two related words in terms of meaning and how they are derived from a common form (for example, Ism Fa'il and Ism Maf'ul). Nahw studies the words and the grouping of words, how the sentences are set up, and changes at the end of words. Knowing these elements is crucial since one cannot know the literal meaning without knowing these branches.
o If someone is not well read in these sciences then it would be easy for one to get confused between subject, object and verbs of the sentences, and this would lead to big misunderstandings (such as what one might experience with an ignorant reading of Surah at-Tawba, Verse 3).
o Balaaghah analyses Qur'an more in the sense of eloquence and is necessary in order to understand the unorthodox and unique nature of the Qur'an (in the sense of it not being any type of speech or composition previously known to the Arabs in spite of their wide experience in this field). The books specifically written on Balaaghah are Maa'ani al-Qur'aan, Majaaz al-Qur'an, 'Iraab al-Qur'an, and Mushkil al-Qur'an by al-Farra (d. 207/822), Abu Ubayda Ma'mar bin al-Muthanna (d. 209/824), az-Zajjaj (d. 311/923), and Ibn Qutayba (d.276/889) respectively (Rahimahumullah).
o The Qur'an uses language in differing ways with respect to different topics. It uses a simple language with regards to social life issues, whereas it employs metaphors when talking about the unseen realm, history, and moral etiquettes. Thus, one needs to follow the evolution of the use of language and the chronological order of revelation when considering the Qur'an.
o Qur'an also uses Mutashaabih (allegorical, symbolic) words such as throne ('Arsh), Sama', Yad and we cannot take the literal meanings of these words since they limit the creator and they are contradicting with other verses. Terms such as the she-camel of God, the House of Allah, the Wrath of Allah, His Love, His Reckoning on the Day of Judgement are all anthropomorphic terms; these terms are natural to employ due to the fact that Qur'an is talking to humans and therefore uses the language of humans.
o Arabs used to worship idols as a routine act. There were also other religious groups in the Arabian Peninsula such as Christians, Jews and Sabiis (Sabeans).
o The Qur'an also talks about the hypocrites in Madeenah. What this shows is that Muslims were in close relationship with all these groups. From the start to the end of the revelation the tone of the verses changes based on the evolution and change of the relationship between these groups and the Muslims. Qur'an did not follow a static historical principle but rather a very dynamic active line. Qur'an has a very complex historical dialogue process. One needs to have good knowledge of this historical Makki-Madani order and the events pointed by them. During the Makkan period around 86 chapters were revealed focusing on Imaan and Akhlaaq (ethics, morals) issues, setting up a very good foundation. This is in addition to the Awaamir (commands) and Nawaahy (prohibitions) slowly being revealed in this period.
o The Makkan period is a foundation for the Madinan period, as in Madinah it was where the Ibaadaat (matters of worship) and the social order were explained. So for a commentator it is important to understand the chronological order and the reasons behind the revelation of these verses. This will remove any sort of confusion in understanding the Qur'an and protect the integrity of the whole picture. So it is crucial to know the when, where and whom (the audience) surrounding the Qur'an, so that we can replicate the event in today's world for the right audience. We need to know who (socially, culturally) this audience is and then look for a similar audience in this day and age in order to correctly apply the teaching/message of different Verses.
o Culture is the total product of material and spiritual things which have been transferred from generation to generation within social human structures. The socio-cultural link is referring to the Arab cultural society as expressed in the Arabic idiom. This socio-cultural link refers to a growth period within that society. One can easily see the culture and the social effects which are related to the context of the Qur'an. This society had 2 main characteristics: being an Arab society and being an Ummi (unlettered) society.
o The Qur'an was revealed to the Prophet ﷺin Arabic. The first audience of the Qur'an was the Arab society, and the things that they were familiar with included the Maaddi (materialistic matters such as their physical surroundings, humans, mountains, desert, sun, clouds, camel, stars, sky, and Ma'nawi (issues connected with the inward and with spirituality, such as the history of people, the order of family and tribal life, beliefs, and the arts). For example, the 'oath' was something very important in Arab society. They would swear on their life, their honor, forefathers, and even their spears (these would refer to the Power or Qudrah they saw behind all of these oaths).
o There was a type an oath called 'Qasama' which was for a group of people (50 people from a tribe would use it to show that they are right). The Qur'an did not neglect a custom like 'Qasama', but rather took it seriously and used it.
o Qur'an also used Kinayah (metonomy) such as that related to Kathrah (plurality) in numbers. For example, in Verse 2:261, 7 and 700 are used, and in Verse 9:80 used the phrase '70 times' is used. These numbers (7, 70, and 700) are not used as exact numbers but as a Kinaayah referring to plurality.
o Also in the descriptions of Paradise, the content of the descriptions are similar to the feasts and banquets familiar to the Arabs at the time of the revelation of Qur'an, and an analogous case can be made for the description of the Hellfire.
o The descriptions of Paradise were so amazing for the Arabs, because they were one of the poorest societies at the time. They lived in the desert, in dry lands without water, while engaging in battles with flowing blood, and were in constant struggles and routinely suffered famines. They were longing for green gardens with water flowing beneath them, and similar peaceful lifestyles. They would appreciate this sort of description as compared to those societies that were already enjoying the beauties of rich fruits, rivers, and palaces.
o The Arab society was closed within itself; they had certain enjoyments and loved drinking and women – and as a result, the Qur'an talked to them in their language. We should compare it to what we have in today's world and take heed from that description. We need to remove the shackles of a literal, fixed mindset and instead broaden our horizons. This sort of description is suitable for that society and can also be broadened for the whole globe by means of similitudes.
o The description of Hellfire is also analogously similar to that of Paradise, since the Qur'an is mainly talking about heat, clothes from fire, boiled water, iron whips, tarred shirts, dry thorns as food, and so forth.
o In Surah Taha, Verse 102 we see the use of the word 'Zurqaa' (sky eyed, bluish scary) and this is a description of the enemies of Arabs, and this word was also used for a bad omen. For them, the color of the sky is the worst and most unlucky of signs. 'Zurqaa', then, is the best description for an enemy trait.
o Similarly in the case of women, when we consider issues such as hitting women, women being witnesses, a share of the inheritance being given to them, we note that they would see women as something bad, to the point of burying them alive, and on the whole they were very harsh to women. During the period of the first revelations, women did not have any rights of inheritance, nor were they considered as witnesses. Islam gave rights to women, such as allowing them to get a share of the inheritance and allowing them to be witnesses.
o Another example is that after the revelation of Surah al-Ahzab, Verse 59, where there was a command for wearing scarves irrespective of time and place, the 'Jilbab' was shown as an example for the Arab society. But more broadly, a 'Jilbab' could be any kind of clothing as long as it covers the prescribed regions of women.
o In Surah Al-Ghaashiya, Verse 17, in the mention of the camel and the hint to consider how it is created is an example of an animal familiar to the Arabs. Had the Qur'an been revealed in the North Pole then the example would be a polar bear for Eskimos. But given the actual context of the revelation, the Arabs were so familiar with camels that this was a perfect example for them.
o Thus, all of these examples are due to the revelation being primarily for an Arab society, and this is very important point to understand, in order to take the overarching lesson and apply it to our present-day societies.
o Linguistically speaking, 'Umm' refers to the main, the 'Asl' or source. This is why Makkah is called Umm al-Qura (the mother of cities).
o The first Mukhaataab (the direct contact, second person) of the Qur'an was the Prophet ﷺ. The Qur'an was revealed to him and he was held responsible to disseminate its content. The Prophet ﷺ was 'Ummi' (unlettered) according to the Qur'an itself (as mentioned in Surah al-'Ankabut: 48, Surah al-A'raaf: 157-158). We know for certain that when the Qur'an was first revealed he was Ummi (some Hadeeth narrations state that he knew how to read at a later stage, but this is not the topic for discussion at present).
o The Qur'an was also sent to an 'Ummi' society (as mentioned in Surah Jumu'a: 2, and pointed to in Surah Aal 'Imran: Verses 20 and 75), and we also see in a Hadeeth found in the collections of al-Bukhaari, Muslim and the Musnad of Imam Ahmad that the Prophet ﷺ said (what approximately translates to): 'I was sent to an Ummi society, we are an Ummi society who don't know reading, writing and calculation'.
o Ibn Khaldun (d. 808/1405) said that Arabs had been living like nomads and Bedouins with a primitive and simple lifestyle. Apart from knowing some poems by memory (Shifaahi way – that is, orally), they did not have a culture of books and written works to read or study. They had a simple tribal lifestyle where they were constantly struggling for life. So the Qur'an is simple and is for all people as it was revealed in the language of an Ummi society.
o The Qur'an took the education level of the Ummi Arab society in order to establish certain rules and regulations. The principles of the Qur'an are understood easily in general and people do not need to go through special education in order to understand the general commands of the Qur'an. One does not need to study life sciences, mathematics or philosophy to understand the Qur'an. Allah talked to them in a way that they would understand the verses in a simple way (this is the best way to understand the Tanazzulaat Ilaahiyya – divine revelations). Imaam ash-Shaatibi (RA) in his book 'al-Muwaafaqaat' says that the first audience of the Qur'an was Ummi, hence the Sharia is also Ummi, and this is the best way to convey the message to everyone.
o Had there been a requirement for certain types of knowledge to be gained before reading the Qur'an, then this would entail 'Taklif ma la Yutaaq' (responsibility given to people for that which they cannot bear). In that case the people would have had a valid reason for not understanding the message. For example, the Qur'an does not ask from people – as a legalistic obligation- to calculate the times with respect to astronomical observations, but rather commands them to simply look at the movement of the sun and the moon, which is something easy for everyone.
o Some concrete examples of this can be seen from Surah al-Baqarah, Verse 189, which talks about the moon and its movement for the establishment of the Hijri calendar. And we likewise see that the fasting day starts when the white and black threads are differentiated (a Majaaz (metaphorical term) for the time of Imsaak – the start of the fasting period), and these are all very simple observations.
o Also, the Qur'an gives very clear examples, easy to understand by everyone like Firaashan [couch, mattress, or a bed; thus, one can think of it as a place in where one can relax and have ease of mind] and Binaa'an [referring to a building, and pointing to the erecting and raising of a building]. It describes the function of Ardh (the Earth) like a bed, in which you can easily sit, lie down, and move. With this sort of description they know what this earth is for, the function of the Earth. Firaashan also means happiness, relaxation, consistency, and this perfectly describes the surface of earth. People understand the things that they don't know best with an analogy to things they do know, like Binaa'an (used to describe the sky through an analogous mention of a building and its construction through the process of raising it up, etc.).
o We must also consider that the word 'Firaashan' comes from the root farasha (to furnish, spread out, make it smooth etc..) So just like words such as 'madda', 'basata', and 'daha' mentioned in other verses, this shows the consistency of the Qur'an when describing the surface of Earth and why it is created that way for humans to accommodate themselves at ease.
o The relationship of a word or a sentence with other words which come before and after is called the Siyaaq-Sibaaq relationship. This linkage shows the relationship between words, sentences, paragraphs and chapters. A verse might be related to a group of verses in various ways. A verse in the Qur'an may be related to the verses before and after as well as Verses found in other chapters. The order of the Verses in the Qur'an is Tawqifi (based on revelation from Allah to the Prophet ﷺand not on Ijtihad – juridical deduction). If we take a verse solo without looking what comes before or after, then this may lead to wrong conclusions about that particular verse. This can also lead to conflicts with other verses. The Qur'an is unique in the sense that a verse could be related to hundreds of other verses located in different chapters. Sometimes a verse can talk about 5-6 different issues which might be covered in different chapters in detail – hence we need to take these other verses with respect to their chronological order and context in order to understand the topic as a whole rather than as a separate entity.
o For example, Surah ash-Shu'araa:19 talks about a dialogue between Pharaoh and Moses (Alayhi Salaam). Pharaoh told Moses 'Wa anta Minal Kaafireen' meaning you are ungrateful. Pharaoh had been saying in the previous verses to Moses that he looked after him, raised him up, etc. And although 'kaafir' means a disbeliever (opposite of Mu'min), here it means 'ungrateful' (opposite of Shaakir). If we do not read the verses before this one, it would not be possible to know the meaning properly.
o The same problem arises with respect to Surah al-Baqarah: 78, 'Ummiyyun' has been understood to mean Majusis (Zoroastrians) without a book (as mentioned in as-Suyuti's work Mufhamaatul Aqraan fi Mubhamaat al-Qur'aan, and ash-Shawkani in Fathul Qadeer). However, when we look at the verses before and after this Verse, we see that this group of verses is talking about the Jews and has nothing to do with Zoroastrians.
o We come now to what we term 'Maqaasid', which refers to the purposes, or goals in reading/writing or in a planned work. There are reasons for the activities that humans perform and also purposes and goals to be reached. People sometimes talk in order to persuade, to guide, to counsel, or simply to discharge feelings. Reasons are means through which the purposes are unearthed. So reason is sequentially before purpose. Revelations are sent down with certain purposes based on some particular reasons whether these are clear or disguised. These purposes affect the audience of the Qur'an. Those Awaamir and Nawaahy (commandments and prohibitions) which make up the formal 'Ibaadaat carry certain Hikmah (wisdom), Maslahah (benefit) and Maqsad (purpose). For example, the purpose of Salaah is to keep humans away from bad and nasty things, the purpose of Zakaah is to balance socio-economic structure in society. The prohibitions tied to interest, theft, alcohol, gambling, fornication, and backbiting are all for the purpose of bringing peace to the families and to the society as a whole.
o Some of the verses of the Qur'an are clear in their purpose and some are not. When the purpose is hidden, this causes people to interpret these verses differently. So we also need to understand Qasdul Mutakallim [lit. the goals of the speaker] along with the language, history, and context. It is important to find out the 'Illah (sabab-reason) or purpose of Allah Ta'ala revealing these Verses.
o As one example we can provide, ash-Shaatibi (d. 790/1388) states for Verse 98 in Surah an-Nisa (translated as): 'What is happening to those that they are not even trying to understand the purpose behind the words?' that this means: How come they do not understand while this is in their language? They understand the meaning but not the purpose and are not even trying to understand the wisdom behind these verses (ash-Shaatibi in al-Muwaafaqaat III).
o In Surah an-Nisaa', Verse 82, what is meant is that: Don't they contemplate over the Qur'an? If they would do this then they would find no conflict in it. These people are Arabs and they do understand the literal meaning but what does Allah Ta'ala refer to here? Contemplating happens through following the literal text towards the purposes. Unfortunately, what they did was to immediately turn away from Qur'an without even thinking, but had they thought they would not have turned away. So Allah wants them to understand the inward meaning and this happens through first knowing the Dhaahiri (literal, outward) meaning. But they turned away after they had understood it literally. People can understand the meaning of a verse in its literal meaning, but the purpose lies in its inward meaning. The meaning is not only in the literal sense per se but in the inward, when we understand the purpose of the Mutakallim (the speaker).
o Also, in order to reach a correct conclusion, one needs to know the linguistic tools to know the literal meaning as a first step, and then, through contemplation, the deeper inward meaning will be known, and this will open the doors for realizing the purpose of revelation.
o As a synopsis then, in order to understand the Qur'an well one needs to know its language, the history of the Makkan and Madeenan periods, the context of the verses at the time of revelation, the purpose of these verses (Qasdul Mutakallim). The prior condition to understand the Qur'an is through the analysis of etymology and semantics, Balaaghah (for example, concepts such as Kinaayah and Majaaz), Sarf and Nahw. Secondly the history, context, and the purpose should be known to reach a correct conclusion. To know the purpose, scholars of Kalaam [discursive theology] contemplate upon 'Dalil' (evidence), Fuqaaha [jurists] upon 'Illah' (reason), and linguists upon 'Qareenah' (connection and context), and in this manner going from known (ash-Shaahid) to unknown (al-Ghayb).
o In order to make comments on the Qur'an one needs to understand it properly and know the Nass (in here signifying explicit proofs, the clear and certain meanings). A typical commentator must have certain skills and aptitudes such as a sound mind, intelligence, sufficient capacity, correct belief, knowledge, experience, etc.
o He also needs to have a certain methodology for people to understand the Qur'an clearly, its fundamental principles, so that the crux/kernel of the Qur'an may be understood clearly. Hence, mastering the Arabic language and literature through detailed analysis of poetry and Balaaghah, as well as referring back to historical events in the light of Qur'an, taking the Qur'an as a whole rather than trying to understand the verse independently, Siyaaq-Sibaaq relationship of these verses in their context, Ahaadeeth, Usuul ad-Deen (i.e. principles of Aqeedah and Kalaam) are the main prerequisites.
o There are two main terms in classical Islamic literature with regards to interpretation: Tafseer (to explain/open something closed, to uncover the intended meaning of Verses through linguistic analysis) and Ta'weel – to bring about the true meaning in the totality of Qur'an, this term coming from the root Awwala which in this case is connected to the Tafseer/Sabab [outcome or interpretation] of dreams.
o Az-Zarkashi and as-Suyuuti explain Ta'weel as transferring or returning the apparent meaning of a verse due to valid (Shari'a authenticated) reasons and based upon a solid proof, to an internal meaning which is in line with the understanding of the Qur'an and the Sunnah.
o A few points to keep in mind: Scholars do not allow for Ta'weel to be made on the Nass [the text of the Qur'an] for the purpose of deriving rulings not mentioned in the text itself. Hence it is compulsory (Waajib) to act upon the apparent meanings of the Nass and without any solid proof one cannot go into Ta'weel (La yajuzu – it is not allowed).
o Also, a Nass with a general meaning will be intended as general ('Aam) unless there is a Nass specifying it ('Aam-Khass relationship). A Nass with a Mutlaq (indubitable) meaning will be intended for Mutlaq (unconditional) purposes unless there is a Nass with Taq-yyid (i.e. unless there is another Nass particularizing it).
o The meaning which is the basis for Ta'weel should be one of the meanings of that specific lafdh (word or phrase) even if it is through Majaaz (metaphor).
o Ta'wil must not be in conflict with any other clear Nass (text, either of the Qur'an or the Sunnah).
o There should be a Daleel Shar'i (legitimate religious-based proof) in order for Ta'weel to be made resulting in other than the apparent meaning of the Qur'anic Verse. (Refer to 'Ilm Usuul al-Fiqh by Abdul-Wahhab Khallaf, and Muhammad Abu Zahra's Usool al-Fiqh).
o These conditions will test whether the Ta'weel is authentic or not. In the methodology of Usool experts, the veracity of Ta'weel is being tested with a criterion of high degree and deep linguistic analysis.
Can Ta'weel be thought of as Hermeneutics?
o In hermeneutics, one puts himself in the shoes of the author in order to fully comprehend the text, be it poetry, prose, etc. Ta'weel upon the intended Lafdh is concerned with the meaning through linguistics and puts conditions for the integrity of the commentary; these conditions are linked to the Matn (text) in terms of lafdh and Ma'na (this last factor being the intended meaning and its connectivity to different factors that will be mentioned shortly). Hence Ta'weel is not only linked to the matn through linguistics but it is also linked individually just as a society is linked to each other with its accumulated knowledge, history, culture, and customs.
o A healthy commentary is feasible only through internal integrity of the 'matn' as well as taking all the background elements into consideration. So Ta'weel should not be thought as something akin to hermeneutics, where one places himself in the shoes of the author. Ta'weel is performed through necessity, specifically to give a correct understanding of the Qur'an for a general audience. One should not get confused or see a link between Ta'weel and hermeneutics other than in the very general sense of both trying to unearth the true meaning of Mujmal (texts with a general concept) or Mutashaabih texts. Hermeneutics offers the chance for the commentator to put himself in the shoes of the author and this may even help the commentator to understand the matn even better than the author did. But this is not a valid approach for Qur'an and this sort of understanding cannot be accepted for the Qur'an at all.
o Hermeneutics can be accepted as a methodology for Bible studies in order to remove the incompatibility these texts have with science and reason ('Aql), since the books of the Bible were written by humans. This method of historical approach or multi-layered thinking cannot be thought of about the Qur'an. Qur'an is neither incompatible with science nor with reason. Hence one cannot interpret it with respect to different periods in the history of mankind, and if one were to do so, this would lead to an absolute disaster.
o The commentator should know the language and the morphology of Arabic linguistics (Sarf-Ishtiqaaq), Nahw (syntax, the position of words in a sentence and their states), Balaagha (eloquence, majaaz, kinaaya, badi', bayaan), so it is not only a matter of looking up the words in a dictionary or lexicon and then making comments about the Qur'an. Comprehending the methods of Usool, the reasons behind religious rulings, and the theoretical pillars of this religion are also crucial.
o Also, what is required is not only knowledge through Naql (simple transmission) but also understanding the events, the historical context, time-place, culture, sociology, social psychology, and so forth. Moreover, the 'Aql of the commentator must be fed from the original Islamic and Qur'anic resources, thinking, and methodology, and not the Biblical or Western points of view.
o He should also have the capacity and the knowledge of the past and link it to the future events, as well as knowing how these affect all sorts of people now and in the future.
o The 'matn' must be seen as a divine message and not as a puzzle book or a mystery homicide case waiting to be resolved. The commentaries should not made for the purpose of gaining fame, or for saying: 'I am the one who came up with this methodology!'. In here, we should seriously think about the verses which warn about people who take their whims and minds as their gods.
o The Qur'an is a book about interactions at various levels: human-nature, human-human, human-Creator, and all of these involve myriad disciplines such as economics, sociology, psychology, history, moral etiquettes, warfare, in addition to knowledge about the Creator and His attributes. It is not easy to be an expert in all of these disciplines and this is why there were only 7 main Fuqaaha out of more than one hundred thousand Companions. Consider that even not every Muhaddith [Hadeeth expert] is considered a Faqeeh. A'mash who knew over 300,000 Ahadith would not give fatwa in front of Imaam Abu Haneefa (Rahimahumulla). When explained by the true scholars, it is easy to understand the Qur'an. The message of the Qur'an is easy to understand without any further explanation, but of course one needs further explanation by the Prophet ﷺand the Ulil-Amr (scholars) in order to understand the ancillary issues of the religion.
o Another point is that the Qur'an contains Muhkam [basic/fundamental] and Mutashaabih Verses. There is no problem in understanding the Muhkam Verses. But, there are difficulties in understanding Mutashaabih verses. Thus, one needs another Nass in order to make commentary on the Mutashaabihaaat. But even then, one cannot claim that these commentaries are the (absolute) meaning intended by Allah Ta'ala. Mutashaabihaat give rise to various perceptions and ways of seeing things in different people's minds. Finally, some Mutashaabihaat verses can contain symbolic or anthropomorphic words, and these have to be dealt with in a systematic manner.
o The Qur'an also talks about the topics of the unseen (topics of the Ghayb), such as death, the Hereafter, Resurrection, Jannah (Paradise), Jahannam (Hellfire), and the end of the Universe. The Qur'an does not get into the 'naturalistic details' of these events in its Verses but rather has its own style in mentioning these facts. People cannot experience the mentioned events in these Verses, and as a result they tend to make comments with regards to these verses, many of them not being really connected to the purport of the Verses.
o The Qur'an also responds to the needs of the Arab society at the time individually as well as collectively in terms of commands, encouragements, and recommendations. But, the commentator may see these events differently. It is important to live through the events the companions did in order to understand the reasons behind the revelation of these verses. Since this is not possible, it leads some people to comment on these verses with different understandings and perceptions, without taking this very crucial point into full consideration.
o Although the Qur'an took Arabs as the direct audience, its main audience is the whole of mankind. The Qur'an simultaneously addresses the people of normal understanding and different cultural backgrounds and the people of higher understanding, thinkers, philosophers and scientists. Those who are interested in the Qur'an from different backgrounds with different levels of understanding will find something relevant to them with respect to their own reality. This shows that Qur'an embraces everyone irrespective of their spatio-temporal setting. But this gives rise to one problem, which is that people make their own understanding public or share their experiences and comments about the Qur'an; opening it to self-interpretations without any regulating authority. Hence everyone seems to live (so as to say) their own religion with respect to their understanding.
o The aforementioned characteristics are due to the unique internal style of Qur'an. The different backgrounds, capacity and methods of people will affect whether they will make comments with prejudice or not.
o Even the formal commentators (Mufassirun) are at different levels in terms of capacity, intelligence, and knowledge and surely this is very natural. Each individual by birth has a different capacity and intelligence. It is important for a commentator to have deep knowledge about the creation and especially about the people. This is crucial in order to be objective and to see the full picture of all the creation rather than being stuck in a fixed school of thought or place.
o One needs to take everything into consideration, the whole planet, climate, cultures, countries, philosophy, sociology, and technology. So it is not good enough to consider certain people who may understand so called scientific verses, since not everyone is capable of thinking scientifically. After all, most Muslims have historically lived outside the West and have had simple understandings.
o There are two types of commentary from the earliest times, Naqli-based [taking into account the primary texts of Islam] and 'Aqli-based [rational-based] commentaries. Every Mufassir needs to be equipped with Naql provided that the Naql is not fabricated. No one opposed this type of commentary whereas at times scholars criticized commentary through 'Aql. Thus, the majority of scholars preferred the Naqli commentary and approach.
o Mufassirun have different amounts of knowledge, distinct approaches towards the Nass, new Tafseer methods and also different schools in Qiraa'at, Fiqh etc.
o The truth is that people live amongst things they see and are affected by their surroundings and experiences, and subconsciously they become subjective and biased. It is hard for one to move away from his biased state and make objective commentaries. If this biased lifestyle is surrounded by a specific belief system and its own related experiences, it is even more difficult to be unbiased. So people will only see their own perspectives as true and will start commenting on the Verses in order to promote their own ideology or school. They will try to prove that their way is the right way and use verses and Ahadeeth to prove their point. So every group that has arisen in history and even today always refers to the Qur'an in order to get a confirmation and to show people that they are right, be it through the apparent meanings or through Ta'weel.
o These sort of approaches resulted in biased self-commentaries. However we need to read, understand and make commentaries of Qur'an without any bias.
o A commentator should not have a fixed mentality because of his past experiences or for any other reason. This will affect his commentary in a negative way.
o Some scholars tried to prove the superiority of Qur'an by showing its unique linguistic style in terms of Balaagha, meaning, I'raab (grammatical analysis), or by commenting on Verses connected to Ahkaam [legalistic rulings]. Some took the Verses related to belief in the Qur'an to show the system of 'Aqeedah [beliefs]. At the end, they wanted to discover the will of Allah through each Verse. Two main methods came about from this approach: Mawdhi'i (part by part, from the start to the end) and Mawdhu'i (topic by topic).
o The Mawdhi'i method seems simple compared to the Mawdhu'i method. It does not have any major advantages other than being a good resource for the Mawdhu'i method. This latter method takes a topic like belief, the cosmos, society, etc. and makes a commentary on the topic, starting from each Verse with respect to the first revelations and the Sabab an-Nuzuul (reason behind the revelation). This combines the human experience/interaction with the inward meaning of the Verses. This is a better method in terms of understanding the Qur'an, and gives a more holistic approach in comprehending certain topics. Ash-Shaatibi suggested the method of induction in understanding the Qur'an, from Juz to Kull and he developed this method further (al-Muwaafaqaat, I:39). In our opinion, for today's world, where the fields are being more and more specialized, it is better to use Mawdhu'i method to comment on the Qur'an.
o Thus, in conclusion we can say that a commentator must have knowledge of the following sciences: 1. 'Ilm al-lughah 2. Nahw 3. Sarf 4. Ishtiqaaq 5. Ilm al-Ma'ani 6. Ilm al-Bayaan 7. Ilm al-Badi' 8. Qiraa'at 9. 'Aqaaid 10. Usul al-fiqh 11. Asbaab an-Nuzul 12. Naasikh and Mansuukh [science of abrogating and abrogated Verses of the Qur'an] 13. Fiqh 14. Ahadith and 15. Wahbi 'Ilm [Inborn knowledge gifted by Allah to the Mufassir]. If someone does not have knowledge of one of these sciences, he is considered to have interpreted the Qur'an according to his own view.
o This is only a small set of points that were mentioned with respect to the exegesis of the Qur'an, and there is scope for elongating this explanation as necessary. May Allah forgive us for any mistakes we may have made and any shortcomings in this work. And may Allah bless and grant peace to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, his Family and Companions.
 We will provide any observations we think are relevant to the topic in footnotes.
 Here, we will adopt the same method that we have adopted in the notes present on this site, that of presenting the thoughts and comments in bulleted astyle.
 Because part of this the Verse translates to: 'And [it is] an announcement from Allah and His Messenger to the people on the day of the greater pilgrimage that Allah is disassociated from the disbelievers, and [so is] His Messenger. But if someone does not know the rules of grammar, is unsure about them, or wishes to cause confusion, the Verse could be mistranslated to erroneously mean that Allah is disassociated from the disbelievers and also from His Messenger, while this is an impossible proposition.
 That is, these are mentioned as possibilities by certain people quoted in the works of these exegetes.
 In the sense of knowledge reached with certainty through the senses, not in the sense of 'modern science'.
 That is, when they are referring to Allah the Exalted.
This entry was posted in Presenting Islam and tagged al-Qurtubi, Allah, Islam, Last Judgment, Muhammad, Quran, Sheikh, Tafseer, Tafsir. Bookmark the permalink.
Who (what authority) determines that these prerequisites/qualifications have been met?
What I understand of the original author's article (I am more of the editor, the original author for the time being is unavailable) is that he was laying down a number of general principles for the work of exegesis, not in the sense of urging people to go ahead and do Tafseer of the Quran, but rather saying that in this complex age it is best for people to have an encyclopedic knowledge of both the traditional Islamic sciences as well as an acquaintance with the world as it stands now before even thinking of going ahead and giving a 'formal interpretation' of Quranic Verses – something that would disqualify all lay Muslims who might be thinking along those lines. He also mentioned that perhaps a committee of scholars rather than individuals would perhaps be the proper route for an Islamic exegesis of the Quran to be made. Of course, the aptitude in the different Islamic sciences needed as prerequisites would have to be attested by the teachers of the scholars in question and the peers of such Ulamaa as the case may be appropriate.
What I understand also in this article is an attempt to try to block what we see today of lay Muslims, even some non-Muslims, claiming that they are 'Mufassirun' simply because they know Arabic or they have a secular degree in Middle Eastern history, etc., because this is one of the matters that really hurts the normal Muslim in his search into understanding Islam properly (since claims are being made about the reality of formal Islam while there is no authority behind such claims).
All in all then, this is more of an abstract piece rather than trying to identify anyone who is to be seen as an overall Mufassir of the Quran.


text:
selbyfest goes wild
Hearty congratulations to the organisers of Selbyfest, it was wonderful to see so many locals come out to support what's become a regular part of the hills festival calendar.
This year's Selbyfest had everything we love about the festival and more. Tracey and Jeanene from Selby Community House played a central role in the coordination of the event and they did a great job.
Jeanene from Selby Community House played a key
role in the organisation of Selbyfest.
This year's theme was Go Wild and the Minak Reserve was a fitting venue as one of the Shire's highest biodiversity and conservation reserves. It was terrific to see local environmentalists run 30 minute walk and talks through the reserve as part of the event offerings available at Selbyfest.
The Youth Stage in the ampitheatre provided young bands with an opportunity to perform and Selbyfest tapped into the youth demographic with some great entertainment on offer throughout the day.
bev were one of the bands performing on the youth stage.
The house was a great venue for the vast array of singer songwriters we are blessed to have in the Hills. Whilst the All Saints Church Selby Men's Shed members provided great entertainment for the kids with a build and ride billy cart activity.
Food vendors were overrun and it was great to see the event supported by local businesses from Belgrave and Kallista along with Selby stalwarts, the Selby CFA, running the always popular sausage sizzle.
The oval provided performance space too for local artists, a funspace for the kids and a great location for the vast array of stallholders.
The Fashion Parade has become a Selbyfest highlight, this year was no exception. It was wonderful to be able to MC the parade, I had great fun and I hope I did justice to the models and the local fashion emporiums showcasing their wares.
It is great to be part of a community that embraces participation and connection. It was wonderful to see the cooperation of many different groups throughout the hills, to make Selbyfest such a success. Once again I congratulate Selbyfest organisers, you did a great job.
The Belgrave Branch of the Bendigo Bank also contributed
to Selbyfest. I am proud to be able to support the event
through the Yarra Ranges Festival Grant program and my
community ward fund.
Local artist Glenn Scolyer, took to painting this van as
part of Selbyfest activities for the day.
Cr Samantha Dunn and Peter Cook, it was great to
see Peter there representing the Dandenong Ranges
Renewable Energy Association and have a yarn about
all things renewable energy. Click here for more
info on DRREA.
Selby Community House did a roaring trade in chai and
curry plates.
Voski von Muller models at the Fashion Parade, a great
local shop with every fashion need, you can find them on
The Wrapt Ya models gave a great performance, you can
find Wrapt Ya at local markets and festivals.
Hugs for Kids in Belgrave were a new addition to the
Fashion Parade, great kids fashion and
super cute too - you can check them out online here.
Labels: 2013, cr samantha dunn, selby community house, selbyfest
posted by Samantha Dunn @ 8:30 AM 0 comments
living healthy, living well? we want to know
Yarra Ranges Council is developing its 2013 – 2017 Health and Wellbeing Plan and we want to hear from you.
As part of our role in supporting the community lead a healthy life we have developed a health profile which has identifies a range of health issues across Yarra Ranges. These include diabetes and obesity, poor nutrition, lack of physical activity, poor mental health, alcohol consumption, and smoking. Many of Yarra Ranges' health issues particularly impact young people.
Demographic and infrastructure issues affecting the municipality include lack of access to health services, low levels of education, and socio-economic disadvantage having a major impact on several outer townships. The costs of housing, transport and food have a particularly heavy impact on disadvantaged households across Yarra Ranges. The available data indicates that many of these issues are getting worse over time.
Council can support communities in many ways including through the provision of services, facilities and infrastructure like community hubs, parks and open space. Another key role for council is advocacy to state and federal government on the health needs of our community. We also work with service providers to response to community health needs and issues.
Now is your chance to tell us what you think about healthy living in Yarra Ranges. Is there anything that concerns you about your health or the health of the community? Here's your opportunity to tell us what you think.
Click here to participate in the online forum or call our Social Planning and Development Officer, Cathi Walker on 9294 6113 for more info.
Labels: cr samantha dunn, health and wellbeing plan, shire of yarra ranges
posted by Samantha Dunn @ 3:07 PM 0 comments
Small town, big arches: Why one Australian town is fighting McDonald's
by Sarah Brown
Labels: cr samantha dunn, mcdonalds, tecoma
thumbs down to mcdonalds in tecoma
Rachel Ward, writer, director and actress, says
thumbs down to McDonalds in Tecoma.
Rachel Ward is best know for roles in Against All Odds and The Thorn Birds and has been nominated twice for a Golden Globe Award. She now focuses her experience and knowledge of film making into writing and directing. As patron of the YWCA, Rachel has helped raise over $5million for various family support services and arts development programs. Good on you Rachel for saying thumbs down to McDonalds in Tecoma.
Labels: cr samantha dunn, mcdonalds, rachel ward, tecoma, thumbs down
Cr Simon Richardson, Mayor of the Byron Shire, says
"thumbs down" to McDonalds in Tecoma. Only last week
Byron Shire Councillors unanimously refused an application
by KFC to set up in Byron Bay.
Labels: byron bay, cr samantha dunn, cr simon richardson, mcdonalds, tecoma, thumbs down
posted by Samantha Dunn @ 11:23 PM 0 comments
my news on maccas
~ Plans have been submitted to reflect the changes made in conditions by the VCAT decision. I've queried some of those changes as they don't appear to be consistent with the VCAT decision which says "the blades on the north elevation to be a muted tone" and they currently appear on the plans as McDonalds Red.
~ No Construction Management Plan has been submitted to date, this will be required prior to works commencing on the site and is a condition of permit issued by VCAT.
~ Consent is required under the Building Act to demolish any buildings on the site.
~ VicRoads have approved the 'functional layout plan' for Sandells Rd, but to date the Public Transport Corporation hasn't.
~ I've written to the Minister for Planning twice now, requesting a meeting to discuss the adequacy of the current planning scheme controls for drive through style convenience restaurants in the Dandenong Ranges.
~ Council wrote to the Minister for Planning back in November with a series of follow up questions and clarifications following the feedback from the community meeting held in November, we're yet to get a response to that letter.
I was proud to be able to join with community members at
the No Maccas in Tecoma Rally.
I have no doubt that this development will have negative impacts on Tecoma and surrounds in many ways, that's why I put up a refusal motion back in October 2011, I haven't seen anything that would change my mind and am working to find planning scheme solutions to protect into the future what we love about the Dandenong Ranges.
Here's some pics from the recent No Maccas in Tecoma Rally, great attendance by community.
This is Robert Maxwell, very long term resident of Tecoma.
Robert has seen many changes in his 84 years and is
vehemently opposed to McDonalds in Tecoma.
Claire is passionate about seeing no
McDonalds in Tecoma, she presented
compelling traffic data to VCAT, all
to no avail in the minds of the VCAT members.
Kate has been instrumental in the campaign, providing
detailed advice to community members.
Labels: cr samantha dunn, mcdonalds, tecoma, yarra ranges
doncaster rail draft report
The Eastern Transport Coalition has welcomed the Doncaster Rail draft report's recommendation that the best route for a new railway line would be along the Eastern Freeway, but questioned several of the report's other findings.
ETC Chairperson, Cr Samantha Dunn said the centre median of the Eastern freeway had been reserved for a rail line when planning for the road was done in the 1970s and, as had been discovered by the Doncaster Rail Study team, was the preferred route for most local residents.
"However we are disappointed that the study recommended terminating the railway line at the Doncaster Park-and-Ride, rather than continuing it to Doncaster Hill," Cr Dunn said.
"The result is that the line will fail to capture the 10,000 residents around Doncaster Hill who would be within walking distance to the train. It will put more pressure on the Doncaster Park-and-Ride and do nothing to discourage car dependence in that area," she said.
"We are also disappointed that the report did not recommend a station at Burke Rd, which would have allowed integration with the number 72 Camberwell tram. Overall, we wanted to see a greater consideration for how the new rail line could integrate with other public transport and become a really viable alternative to car travel."
Cr Dunn said the ETC would also like to see detailed costings for the project.
According to the Doncaster Rail draft report, the 11km section along the Eastern Freeway between Victoria Park Station and Doncaster Park and Ride, with only three stations, has been estimated at between $3 - $5 billion.
In comparison, the 72 km Perth-Mandurah line in Western Australia was delivered for under $1.7 billion in 2007. This line has 11 stations, including two underground stations within the Perth CBD and a number of bridges over rivers and creeks.
Furthermore, a separate study commissioned last year by the Doncaster Rail Local Government Group, had found that a rail line long the Eastern Freeway, including a connection at the end to Parkville, could be delivered at a cost of between $840 million and $1.25 billion.
Cr Dunn also questioned the assertion in the draft report that an upgrade of the South Morang line was necessary before Doncaster Rail could be built.
"Certainly considerable investment needs to take place across the entire metropolitan rail network to accommodate future rail extensions, particularly the Melbourne metro rail tunnel," Cr Dunn said.
"However, claiming that upgrades are first necessary on the South Morang line is simply taking money from the Doncaster Rail project to solve other network deficiencies."
Cr Dunn said it was pleasing that the government has already committed funding for stage 2 of the study and said the ETC looked forward to it beginning as soon as possible, taking into account the feedback from this first part of the process.
The ETC is made up of seven eastern suburban councils, and represents the public transport needs of more than one million residents.
Labels: cr samantha dunn, doncaster rail, eastern transport coalition, public transport
Some Belgrave and Selby residents could be waiting until 2018 to be connected to sewer network
by Emily Webb
Free Press Leader
State Government accused of finding excuses to delay Rowville Rail Link after report release
by Laura Armitage and Tim Michell
Knox Leader
No Monash Uni train station for at least a decade
by Daniel Tran
Monash Weekly
"More buses" needed during Rowville Rail wait
by Matthew Crawford
The Next Station
Labels: belgrave, cr samantha dunn, eastern transport coalition, etc, public transport, rowville rail, selby, sewerage, south east water
This train leaving for Rowville ... one day
by Adam Carey
No to cockies wanting crackers
by David Schout
Yarra Ranges Weekly
Black Saturday: Extra time sought on planning approvals
Labels: bushfire, cockatoo damage, cr samantha dunn, eastern transport coalition, etc, planning, rowville rail, yarra ranges
rowville rail report released
The Eastern Transport Coalition today welcomed the long-awaited final report into a Rowville Rail line and the Baillieu Government's subsequent commitment to proceed with the second stage of the feasibility study.
ETC Chairperson, Cr Samantha Dunn said the State Government's acknowledgement that a Rowville Rail line is feasible was an important step forward.
"Mr Baillieu has said that his government would now begin planning the future alignment of a Rowville rail line – that is great news and we look forward to seeing the details about how the project will now progress," Cr Dunn said.
"If the government is indeed serious about delivering a quality, integrated public transport system for Melbourne then it needs to commit funding, set timelines for work to begin, and secure land need for the project."
According to the report, a Rowville rail line could follow the central median of North Road and Wellington Road from Huntingdale to Stud Road, and then turn north to terminate at Stud Park. Four new stations would be provided at Monash University, Mulgrave, Waverley Park and Rowville.
The report also noted that planning and construction could take another 7-8 years, and would depend on other projects being completed including the Dandenong rail corridor upgrade and the Melbourne Metro Rail Tunnel.
There was also recognition that bus services would need to be increased to cope with current demand while planning for the train line continues.
Cr Dunn called on the State and Federal Governments to commit funding and work through the issues to get the line built as soon as possible.
"The project has already been in the too-hard basket for 40 years. Delaying further will only exacerbate costs, road congestion and land use issues," she said.
"The feasibility study showed that the community was overwhelmingly in favour of the rail line and the many positive benefits it would bring, particularly for those trying to access Monash University. We urge the Government to take the next step and get the railway line built."
Labels: cr samantha dunn, eastern transport coalition, etc, public transport, rowville rail
vic greens
victorian local governance association
eastern transport coalition
community childcare association
geneEthics
wilderness society
bush heritage fund
digger's club
a new era coming
the campaign trail - 17 nov
the campaign trail - 3 nov
low density residential zone– changes for some
the campaign trail - 27 oct
sherbrooke children's centre reaps rewards

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Following Taeyeon, NCT Dream Also Postpones Their Singapore Concert Due To The Coronavirus Situation
They have postponed the concert due to safety concerns.
Renee Davis
NCT Dream has also postponed their Singapore concert.
Earlier, Taeyeon was confirmed to have cancelled her concert, and NCT Dream has also followed suit due to the public safety concerns regarding the COVID-19 coronavirus situation.
The production company in charge of the concert, OneProduction, released an announcement on Twitter about both Taeyeon and NCT Dream's postponement of their respective concerts.
We are deeply sorry to announce both TAEYEON Concert – The UNSEEN – in SINGAPORE & NCT DREAM TOUR "THE DREAM SHOW" in SINGAPORE has been postponed.
Customers who have purchased tickets will receive full refund, please check out https://t.co/aokZE5Lcki for more information. pic.twitter.com/jKKEJtu7Kh
— OneProduction (@OneProductionSG) January 30, 2020
Due to coronavirus proliferation concerns, we are deeply sorry to announce that NCT Dream Tour The Dream Show in Singapore on 15 February at The Star Theatre, The Star Performing Arts Centre has been postponed.
The safety of artists, patrons and staff is our top priority and we will continue to act on advice from the authorities on the coronavirus and take precautionary measures in line with prevention efforts.
Customers who have purchased tickets will receive a full refund through the original mode of payment. Full refund details will be available [on the website] soon.
Once again, we apologize for any inconvenience caused and thank you for your understanding.
—OneProduction
NCT Dream is currently on their first solo tour titled The Dream Show. Starting from Seoul, they have so far visited Thailand and Japan. They were set to visit Singapore as part of the tour, but have now postponed the concert.
Hopefully, fans will be able to meet NCT Dream and see the group performing their hit songs soon!


On March 4, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision unveiled substantial revisions to the operational risk capital framework, centred around a new Standardised Measurement Approach (SMA), designed to generate risk-sensitive capital levels that are more consistent across banks and jurisdictions.
The proposals would remove the internal model-based approach altogether, but banks will still need sophisticated modelling capabilities to calculate their exposures. That's good news for The Analytics Boutique, a niche technology vendor focused on advanced operational risk metrics.
"The SMA itself is a very simple calculation, but it is likely that many supervisors will require banks, under Pillar 2 of the framework, to use advanced risk-sensitive models to clearly identify their largest and most dangerous exposures, so risk mitigation can be directed to those points," says Rafael Cavestany, founder and director of The Analytics Boutique.
A fully owned subsidiary of London-based consulting firm True North Partners, The Analytics Boutique has been operational since early 2012, and its product, OpCapital Analytics, has been implemented at 10 institutions, including banks and insurance companies. Led by Cavestany and innovation director Daniel Rodriguez, The Analytics Boutique benefits from its links with True North Partners, as many firms will access the consultancy first before tapping the technology.
In one instance, a large global bank needed to build a hybrid operational risk model very quickly using internal and external data and scenario analysis to meet the requirements of its regulator. Using OpCapital Analytics as its modelling tool, the bank was able to complete the project in only eight weeks in mid-2015.
Cavestany estimates that building a model of such a scale and complexity could typically take up to 12 months, but by installing the system in the bank's own IT environment and training its staff to use it, The Analytics Boutique was able to facilitate a much quicker process.
"Many vendors provide a simple analytics tool with limited functionality and it is left up to the client to do all of the coding necessary to build an appropriate model, which can be very time-consuming and prone to errors. Our product is tailored to be more user-friendly, so the institution can really own the analytics process," Cavestany explains.
The removal of internal models from the operational risk capital framework will certainly have an impact on the way OpCapital Analytics is used in the future. But practitioners argue that banks will continue to find value in modelling their op risk exposures – in which case, OpCapital Analytics may continue to be a popular tool. The product is designed to be accessible to non-specialists, and has also been built to meet the requirements of a range of modelling and stress-testing regimes.
"In many banks we find it is only a small group of people with mathematical coding skills that can run the models, which introduces a human dependency that can be a risk if those people leave. Many supervisors now require banks to avoid black boxes and make sure models are well understood, so there is clearly a need for more accessible, understandable and transparent solutions in this area," says Cavestany.


text:
package com.jimandreas.aarch.popm.util;

import android.arch.lifecycle.LiveData;
import android.arch.lifecycle.Observer;
import android.support.annotation.Nullable;

import java.util.concurrent.CountDownLatch;
import java.util.concurrent.TimeUnit;

public class LiveDataTestUtil {
    public static <T> T getValue(LiveData<T> liveData) throws InterruptedException {
        final Object[] data = new Object[1];
        CountDownLatch latch = new CountDownLatch(1);
        Observer<T> observer = new Observer<T>() {
            @Override
            public void onChanged(@Nullable T o) {
                data[0] = o;
                latch.countDown();
                liveData.removeObserver(this);
            }
        };
        liveData.observeForever(observer);

        latch.await(2, TimeUnit.SECONDS);

        // blow out timeout for debugging
        // latch.await(300, TimeUnit.SECONDS);

        //noinspection unchecked
        return (T) data[0];
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
13+ Best Schedule Maker Software for Windows, Mac, Android 2022
Arranging meetings and planning for shifts all involve taking time into account and setting schedules. The business industry revolves around essential resources such as time and money. That said, to optimize daily productivity and efficiency, you need to plan out your schedule carefully by taking advantage of functional schedule maker software.
Schedule Maker Software
13+ Schedule Maker Software
1. nTask
2. Hubspot Meeting
3. Doodle
4. Calendly
5. Schedule Builder
6. Google Sheets
7. Shiftly
8. Appoint.ly
10. Excel
11. Free College Schedule Maker
12. Adobe Spark
13. Visme
14. Coursicle
What Is Schedule Maker Software?
Top 10 Schedule Maker Software
1. Adobe Spark
What are essential tips for effective schedule making?
Why is scheduling essential?
What is employee scheduling software?
Schedule maker software is a program that helps its users to streamline appointment scheduling and booking management. It provides a centralized database that integrates essential information in a single location. Also, it has custom timesheets and other schedule templates that you can access. When you utilize this software, you can also use digital tools that will allow you to manipulate and edit your schedule to fit your appointments.
This schedule generator software also automates activity tracking and other time-related activities. In addition, this system also supports shift scheduling and solves the scheduling needs of individuals and various organizations. Another functionality of this software is it allows you to share, save, and print your schedules.
This digital solution presents time-efficient methods for tracking, booking, and mapping your schedules. That said, it eliminates the need for scanning and checking schedule-related documents and records. Also, it helps you avoid scheduling conflicts and other discrepancies. In addition, when you use this scheduling software for project scheduling and employee scheduling, it helps to keep your team on the same page.
Utilizing a schedule maker solution already brings several advantages, but choosing the best one is another story. It entails being able to equip a powerful scheduling tool at your disposal that will decrease the chances of you worrying about scheduling-related issues. To achieve this feat, you need to deliberate your available options in the market carefully. Study the services they include in their packages and the controls they highlight in their subscription plans. The following are features that an ideal schedule maker software should have:
Time clock tools
Calendar software integration
Time and attendance tracking functionalities
Custom and editable schedule templates and sheets
Drag and drop feature
Appointment reminder system
Third-party apps integration
When you utilize this software, you can access an extensive content library and print management tools. Adobe has 22,634 employees and has 11 billion dollars in revenue.
Collaboration tools and custom templates are examples of features you can access in Canva. They employed 1,500 people and have generated a revenue of 317 million dollars.
3. WorkTime
WorkTime provides businesses with tools for time tracking as well as online punch cards. Its developer NesterSoft has eight employees and has generated revenue of 51 million dollars.
This software allows its users to access event management and resource scheduling capabilities. They have 25 million dollars in generated revenue and have 120 employees in their team.
5. Appointy
This digital solution has functionalities for calendar management and facility scheduling. They have 18 million dollars in generated revenue of 18 million dollars and employed 97 people.
Doodle has features such as automated scheduling and employee scheduling tools. They have 50 employees in their team and have 6.4 million in generated annual revenue.
7. Sling
This software allows its users to use tools for tracking data analytics and employee performance metrics. They have 4 million dollars in generated revenue and have 23 employees.
8. 10to8
This digital solution has group scheduling and appointment scheduling functionalities. They employed 20 people in their team and have 3 million dollars in generated revenue.
9. Zoomshift
Shift swapping and vacation tracking capabilities are accessible in this digital scheduling solution. They have generated revenue of 1 million dollars and have seven employees.
This software is a college scheduling solution that has class tracking and class scheduling tools. They have 926 thousand dollars in generated revenue and employed five people in their team.
The first and most important tip for making your schedules is to utilize operative schedule maker software. With this digital solution, you can use timetables and other essential documents for scheduling. Also, you can set and manipulate data in just a few clicks. In addition, another tip is to set your priorities as well as categorize and group similar tasks.
Scheduling plays an essential role in ensuring to set aside enough time for your responsibilities and tasks. Also, it will set your direction for the day, week, and even for an entire month. In addition, effective scheduling helps you organize and achieve your goals. Scheduling in large-scale business settings will improve your human resource management and enhance productivity in your workplace.
Employee scheduling software refers to the digital solution that streamlines the tasks of setting the schedules and shifts of your workforce. It is a resource scheduling tool that helps secure enough employees to work for every job shift to meet the needs and demands of the company. This system also provides collaboration tools that allow both the manager and employees to request and approve shift requests.
To avoid getting stressed, you should focus on the things you can control, and your schedule is one of them. Organize your schedule and save more time for things that matter. Plan out your schedule beforehand and take over the reins of your life with nothing less than the best schedule maker software.
9+ Best Job Scheduling Software for Windows, Mac, Android 2022
10+ Best Outbound Telemarketing Software for Windows, Mac, Android 2022
7+ Best Cloud Distribution Software for Windows, Mac, Android 2022
13+ Best Wholesale Distribution Software for Windows, Mac, Android 2022
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11+ Best Cloud Medical Billing Software for Windows, Mac, Android 2022
13+ Best Cloud Recruitment Software for Windows, Mac, Android 2022
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8+ Best eSourcing Software for Windows, Mac, Android 2022
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15+ Best Enterprise Reporting Software for Windows, Mac, Android 2022
13+ Best Field Service Software for Windows, Mac, Android 2022
15+ Best Home Health Software for Windows, Mac, Android 2022
22+ Best Nonprofit Fundraising Software for Windows, Mac, Android 2022
10+ Best Production Planning Software for Windows, Mac, Android 2022
13+ Best Procurement Management Software for Windows, Mac, Android 2022
11+ Best Demand Management Software for Windows, Mac, Android 2022
12+ Best Skills Management Software for Windows, Mac, Android 2022
13+ Best Content Creation Software for Windows, Mac, Android 2022
9+ Best Advanced Planning and Scheduling Software for Windows, Mac, Android 2022
13+ Best Email List Manager Software for Windows, Mac, Android 2022
12+ Best Customer Self-Service Software for Windows, Mac, Android 2022
13+ Best Spend Analysis Software for Windows, Mac, Android 2022
12+ Best Collaborative Whiteboard Software for Windows, Mac, Android 2022
12+ Best Business Process Simulation Software for Windows, Mac, Android 2022
10+ Best Email Workflow Software for Windows, Mac, Android 2022
13+ Best Enterprise CRM Software for Windows, Mac, Android 2022
13+ Best Field Force Management Software for Windows, Mac, Android 2022
12+ Best Restaurant Accounting Software for Windows, Mac, Android 2022
14+ Best Food Distribution Software for Windows, Mac, Android 2022


text:
Home>Editorials>Sucker Punch
Upton Sinclair: The Moneychangers
A Rosetta Stone of "Stablethings"
Low Price Inflation Means the Fed Wll Retreat to...
Frank Shostak
When Will the Stock Market Respond to 2016's...
Bill Holter Jim Sinclair – Gold $87,000 per ounce at...
Laffer Gets Laughable
All You Need To Know About The Gold Standard
Judy Shelton And The Battle Against "Soft Money"
Kunstler.com
Published : April 05th, 2019
( 5 votes, 3.4/5 ) , 1 commentary
Category : Editorials
Note to Readers: we had to do some site maintenance and updating of WordPress software over the weekend, so sorry for any problems with the comment section. We believe they've been resolved.
Having disgraced themselves with full immersion in the barren RussiaGate "narrative," the Resistance is now tripling down on RussiaGate's successor gambit: obstruction of justice where there was no crime in the first place. What exactly was that bit of mischief Robert Mueller inserted in his final report, saying that "…while this report does not conclude that the President committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him?"
It's this simple: prosecutors are charged with finding crimes. If there is insufficient evidence to bring a case, then that is the end of the matter. Prosecutors, special or otherwise, are not authorized to offer hypothetical accounts where they can't bring a criminal case. But Mr. Muller produced a brief of arguments pro-and-con about obstruction for others to decide upon. In doing that, he was out of order, and maliciously so.
Of course, Attorney General Barr took up the offer and declared the case closed, as he properly should where the prosecutor could not conclude that a crime was committed. One hopes that the AG also instructed Mr. Mueller and his staff to shut the fuck up vis-à-vis further ex post facto "anonymous source" speculation in the news media. But, of course, the Mueller staff — which inexplicably included lawyers who worked for the Clinton Foundation and the Democratic National Committee — at once started insinuating to New York Times reporters that the full report would contain an arsenal of bombshells reigniting enough suspicion to fuel several congressional committee investigations.
The objective apparently is to keep Mr. Trump burdened, hobbled, and disabled for the remainder of his term, and especially in preparation for the 2020 election against whoever emerges from the crowd of lightweights and geriatric cases now roistering through the primary states. It also leaves the door open for the Resistance to prosecute an impeachment case, since that is a political matter, not a law enforcement action.
This blog is not associated with any court other than public opinion, and I am free to hypothesize on the meaning of Mr. Mueller's curious gambit, so here goes: Mr. Barr, long before being considered for his current job, published his opinion that there was no case for obstruction of justice in the RussiaGate affair. By punting the decision to Mr. Barr, Mr. Mueller sets up the AG for being accused of prejudice in the matter — and, more to the point, has managed to generate a new brushfire in the press.
Mr. Barr could see this coming from a thousand miles away. I suspect he's pissed off about being set up like this. I suspect further that he knows this brushfire is intended to produce a smokescreen to obscure the rash of grand jury referrals coming down in the weeks and months ahead against the many government employees who concocted the RussiaGate scandal. Personally, I think Mr. Mueller himself deserves to be in that roundup for destroying evidence (the Strzok / Page cell phones) and for malicious prosecution against General Flynn, among other things.
The reason Mr. Mueller did not bring an obstruction of justice charge against Mr. Trump is that the evidence didn't support it. He didn't have a case. In a trial — say, after Mr. Trump was impeached or left office — the discovery process could bring to light evidence that might embarrass and even incriminate Mr. Mueller and his staff, and cast further opprobrium on the federal justice agencies. For instance: why did Mr. Mueller drag out his inquiry for two years when he must have known by at least the summer of 2017 that the Steele dossier was a fraud perpetrated by the Clinton campaign?
Now the propaganda crusade has been initiated to defame Mr. Barr. The idiots running the budding new congressional inquiries are going to pile on him, with the help of the news media. Though he is said to be an "old friend" of Robert Mueller's, I believe they have become adversaries, perhaps even enemies. Mr. Mueller is not in a position of strength in this battle. He has now officially exited the stage as his mandate expires, so he has no standing to oppose further consequences in the aftermath of RussiaGate. What remains is a dastardly hoax as yet unadjudicated and an evidence trail a mile wide, and no amount of jumping up and down crying "woo woo woo" by Jerrold Nadler, Maxine Waters, and Adam Schiff going to derail that choo-choo train a'chuggin' down the tracks.
This blog is sponsored this week by McAlvany ICA. To learn more visit: //icagoldcompany.com/
Just Out! Previously Unpublished!
From the Jeff Greenaway Series
At Ponsonby Hall, a new Hampshire prep school for screw-ups, things are far from all right.
"Audaciously hilarious"
$7.00 — Cheap! Buy!
(Read Excerpt)
Something Strange is going on at Camp Timahoe in Lost Indian, Vermont, summer of 1962.
"Rollicking fun"
New Paintings by JHK 2016 — 2017
Great Winter Reading… JHK's Hippie Novel!
"Simply the best novel about the 1960s."
Read the first chapter here (click) on Patreon
Buy the book at Amazon or click on the cover below
or get autographed copies from Battenkill Books
Now in Paperback !
Only Seven Bucks!
JHK's Three-Act Play
A log mansion in the Adirondack Mountains…
A big family on the run…
A nation in peril…
Other Books by JHK
The World Made By Hand Series:
Book 1:
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James Howard Kunstler 13 abonnés
James Howard Kunstler has worked as a reporter and feature writer for a number of newspapers, and finally as a staff writer for Rolling Stone Magazine. In 1975, he dropped out to write books on a full-time basis. His nonfiction book, "The Long Emergency," describes the changes that American society faces in the 21st century. Discerning an imminent future of protracted socioeconomic crisis, Kunstler foresees the progressive dilapidation of subdivisions and strip malls, the depopulation of the American Southwest, and, amid a world at war over oil, military invasions of the West Coast; when the convulsion subsides, Americans will live in smaller places and eat locally grown food.
Gypsy 4/6/2019 at 1:34 PM GMT
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It appears you left "The Conclusion" out of your conclusion James. The general public at large, the VOTERS, never believed any of the RussiaGate Bullsh*t AND are even more pissed-off that The Resistance is MILKING it for another round of Nothing Burgers. That will bring on the 2020 Slap Back : the Trump 2020 RE-election.
On the down side; Trump's Mind Guides will continue to achieve their goals of Never-Ending-War Profits, the destruction of civil liberties, maintaining the fear of torture in the hearts of any dissent, and the socialization of any debt they incur. Again, on the down side: the VOTERS ~ who will give The Resistance their Righteously Deserved Slap-in-the-Face Defeat in 2020 ~ will think "we won AGAIN" without considering what THEY LOST when they won The First Time.
I can't find an up side to The Conclusion.
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It appears you left "The Conclusion" out of your conclusion James. The general public at large, the VOTERS, never believed any of the RussiaGate Bullsh*t AND are even more pissed-off that The Resistance is MILKING it for another round of Nothing Burgers Read more
Gypsy - 4/6/2019 at 1:34 PM GMT
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text:
18-year-old Brady Scott demonstrates his athleticism during Cologne's training camp in Kitzbühel, Austria. - © © DFL DEUTSCHE FUSSBALL LIGA
USA teenager Brady Scott eager to emulate Pulisic and Co. after signing for Cologne
Following on from the eye-catching rise of Christian Pulisic at Borussia Dortmund, Haji Wright and Weston McKennie earning promotion to the senior Schalke squad and Jonathan Klinsmann signing for Hertha Berlin, the next American youngster has arrived in the Bundesliga eager to make his mark: Brady Scott.
The goalkeeper, who only turned 18 at the end of June, penned a three-year deal with Cologne at the start of July 2017, moving from De Anza Force in the San Francisco Bay Area after turning down an opportunity at the University of Virginia.
Although initially brought in to bolster the reserve side, the Petaluma, California native stepped up to the first team squad almost immediately as an injury to Thomas Kessler left a space open at the Billy Goats' training camp in Kitzbühel, Austria.
It represented the next milestone in the incredible rise Scott has enjoyed over the past year. A regular in the USA's U-18 and U-19 camps, he was included in the U.S. squad that reached the quarter-finals at this year's FIFA U-20 World Cup in South Korea.
And although he did not play – Klinsmann was first-choice goalkeeper – Scott is eager to take the positives. "The experiences of playing at international level have been a key in my development," he told top drawer soccer. "Because of these games, I feel that the adjustment to German soccer will be significantly easier."
And he is in no doubt that the home of the world champions is the right move for him: "Germany produces world-class goalkeepers including Manuel Neuer, Marc-André Ter Stegen, Kevin Trapp, Timo Horn, and Bernd Leno. Specifically at Cologne, the club has recently produced Horn and Sven Müller, who have both been developed through their academy. So there is a clear path to the first team and the club like to sign their own products."
Watch: Go behind the scenes at Cologne's media day
There is no doubting that. Jonas Hector, Lukas Klünter and Salih Özcan, who recently won the prestigious Fritz Walter gold medal, are other examples of youth players being given a chance in the first team at Cologne, and Scott is keen to add his name to that list.
"My football goals for the first season with Cologne are to get as many games as possible and to improve as much as possible," he said. "Within the next few years, I'll do my best to earn a spot on the first team. I'm hoping to still be able to be a part of the US national team program and represent my country." If his fellow young compatriots are anything to go by, that looks like a safe bet.
Click here for more Cologne news!


Update your calendars, the last Proactum Open Meet Up before summer is scheduled! The success of Proactum Open Meet Up events continue on Tue 17th of May, 2011 traditionally in Pub Angleterre (Fredrikinkatu 47, Helsinki) starting at 17:30. There are three events comming during the autumn.The key note speech will open up the future view of MeeGo. Do join us and come to listen to interesting thoughts.Proactum Open Meet Up is free of cost.


Our goal is to create more than an excellent educational experience. We strive for a balance that includes friendships, personal and professional growth, leadership opportunities, travel, social enrichment, and a good measure of fun. Our students remember their Gatton experience for a lifetime, where excellent academics are combined with a rich student life and a vibrant student-centered culture. Most students are actively engaged in at least one of our 11 nationally-recognized student organizations.
Learn more about our nationally-recognized student organizations here.


Adelaide printed jersey dress by Hale Bob. Change up your summer dress look with a chic pink and blue reptile print. The empire bodice cinches the waist with a low v neck accentuating the feminine form.
XXS (00) Bust: 28-30" Waist: 22-24" Length: 33.5"


Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 05 June 2018), memorial page for Betsey Wheelock Harris (8 Apr 1783–12 Aug 1853), Find A Grave Memorial no. 139929885, citing Waterville Cemetery, Waterville, Oneida County, New York, USA ; Maintained by Andrew L. (contributor 46818829).
"Daughters of the American Revolution", record number 12575 , by Susie E. Spaids, great-granddaughter of Betsey (Wheelock) Harris. She asserts that Betsey Wheelock was the daughter of Joel Wheelock of Ipswich, NH. Unfortunately, her DAR applicat ion is not well sourced; in addition she mistakenly asserts that Betsey Wheelock married George Harris, rather than Oliver Harris. So the authority of this DAR record is suspect, but is probably as reliable as family lore.
1) "Daughters of the American Revolution", record number 12575 , by Susie E. Spaids, great-granddaughter of Betsey (Wheelock) Harris. The record identifies Betsey as the daughter of Joel Wheelock of Ipswich, NH.
2) Lewis Wheelock, her uncle, identifies her in his 1830 Oneida County Will as his niece.
3) Betsey Wheelock resided in Smithfield, Madison Co, NY, where her father Joel Wheelock lived, at least long enough to give birth to her first child, Oliver C. Harris there.
4) The name Betsey may come from her presumed mother, Elizabeth.
The Gershom Wheelock bible records, on file at the New England Historical and Genealogical Society refer to him as Dr. Frederick Wheelock.
Obituary of George R. Wheelock, Chelsea Standard, 8 Mar 1962, McKune Memorial Library online database at http://fh.chelsea.lib.mi.us/index.php, Nov 2007.
George Wheelock's obituary in the 8 Mar 1962 Chelsea Standard mentions three children: Russell G. Wheelock, Warren R. Wheelock, and Neal H. Wheelock.


text:
Q: Initialize a templated class's static member that uses a template argument as the type? I have:
template<typename TypeA, typename TypeB>
class MyClass
{
     public:
     static TypeA StaticA;
     static TypeB StaticB;

     //...other stuff....
};

How do I initialize 'StaticA' (and StaticB)?
If I do this: (in the header file, under the class's declaration but not inside it)
template<>
typename MyClass<TypeA, TypeB>::TypeA MyClass<TypeA, TypeB>::StaticA = TypeA();

Gives me:
'TypeA' was not declared in this scope.
'TypeB' was not declared in this scope.
template argument 1 is invalid
template argument 2 is invalid

And this:
template<typename TypeA, typename TypeB>
typename MyClass<TypeA, TypeB>::TypeA MyClass<TypeA, TypeB>::StaticA = TypeA();

Gives me:
conflicting declaration 'typename MyClass<TypeA, TypeB>::TypeA MyClass<TypeA, TypeB>::StaticA'
'MyClass<TypeA, TypeB>::StaticA' has a previous declaration as 'TypeA MyClass<TypeA, TypeB>::StaticA'
declaration of 'TypeA MyClass<TypeA, TypeB>::StaticA' outside of class is not definition [-fpermissive]

What's the proper way to initialize a templated class's static member that uses a template argument as the type?

A: Ah, the correct syntax is:
template<typename TypeA, typename TypeB>
TypeA ResourceFactory<TypeA, TypeB>::StaticA = TypeA();

Which in my original problem is:
template<typename TypeA, typename TypeB>
typename MyClass<TypeA, TypeB>:: TypeA MyClass<TypeA, TypeB>::StaticA = TypeA();
^remove^ ^-------remove--------^

I was getting confused because of all the template arguments. =)
Similar to, but not entirely overlapping, this question's answer.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Polyphenisms are excellent models for studying phenotypic variation, yet few studies have focused on natural populations. Facultative paedomorphosis is a polyphenism in which salamanders either metamorphose or retain their larval morphology and eventually become paedomorphic. Paedomorphosis can result from selection for capitalizing on favorable aquatic habitats (paedomorph advantage), but could also be a default strategy under poor aquatic conditions (best of a bad lot). We tested these alternatives by quantifying how the developmental environment influences the ontogeny of wild Arizona tiger salamanders (Ambystoma tigrinum nebulosum). Most paedomorphs in our study population arose from slow-growing larvae that developed under high density and size-structured conditions (best of a bad lot), although a few faster-growing larvae also became paedomorphic (paedomorph advantage). Males were more likely to become paedomorphs than females and did so under a greater range of body sizes than females, signifying a critical role for gender in this polyphenism. Our results emphasize that the same phenotype can be adaptive under different environmental and genetic contexts and that studies of phenotypic variation should consider multiple mechanisms of morph production.
This long-term research could not have been completed without the support and assistance of numerous colleagues, research assistants, funding agencies, and friends. We particularly thank R.D. Howard for his unending and much needed advice, wisdom, revisions, and patience during the initial phases of this project. W. Brown, A. Benson, J. Boynton, E. Olson, J. Doyle, J. Earl, A. Bohonak, S. Horn, G. McCrabb, R. Moorman, J. Marcus, J. McGrady-Steed, K. Buhn, D. Weigel, G. Maruca, M. Hatfield, C. Eden, H. Grieg, R. Schultheis, S. Mattie, D. Dale, M. Mumford, C. Aubee, E. Bruneau, M. Galatowitsch, M. O'Brien, and S. Thomason provided field and intellectual assistance. P. Waser, J. Lucas, N. Buschhaus, J. Young, M. Brown, A. Bohonak, J. Haydock, J. Doyle, K. Landholt, and J. Earl reviewed previous versions of the manuscript. J. Hetfield, L. Ulrich, K. Hammett, R. Trujillo, J. Newstead, and C. Burton provided intense encouragement. I. Billick, B. Barr, S. Donovan, S. Lohr, T. Allison and L. Swift have provided much needed aid and assistance at the RMBL, and W. Gibbons, R. Semlitsch, D. White, G. Kipphut, and R. Fister patiently supported this work. M. Denoël was a Research Associate at the Fonds de la Recherche Scientifique (FRS-FNRS) during this research. This research was funded by a Purdue David Ross Summer Fellowship, a Purdue Research Foundation Fellowship, the American Museum of Natural History (Theodore Roosevelt Fund), Sigma Xi (Grant in Aid), the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory (Lee R. G. Snyder Memorial Fund), the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists (Helen Gaige Fund), the Animal Behavior Society (ABS Research Grant), the Colorado Division of Wildlife, the American Philosophical Society, the Murray State University Center for Institutional Studies and Research (CISR), a CISR Presidential Research Fellowship, a Fulbright Fellowship (MD), the Fonds National de la Recherche Scientifique (FRS-FNRS grants 1.5.011.03, 1.5.120.04, F.4718.06, 1.5.199.07, 1.5.013.08, and 1.5.010.09) and the National Science Foundation (DEB 9122981 and DEB 0109436 to HW; BSR 8958253, DEB 9407856, and DEB 010893 to SAW; EPI 0132295 to G. Kipphut; and UBM 0531865 to R. Fister).


When it comes to choosing the right insurance coverage, knowledge is power. This guide is designed to provide insight to make the process easier – from getting a handle on business liability insurance to understanding the specifics of insurance in a flood zone.
Have questions? Just give us a call. We're always here to help.
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NJ insurance companies look to the research of this nonprofit for the prevention of motor vehicle crashes and reduction of personal injury.
The IIABNJ helps members of NJ insurance companies reach exceptional performance levels.
Works to establish and maintain rules for workers compensation insurance. Their standards guide NJ insurance companies.
Regulates the rates, rules and forms for property and casualty insurance offered through NJ insurance companies.
This non-profit assists NJ insurance companies with information and research on the state's property casualty insurance.
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ASBA promotes the growth of small businesses throughout the country, and provides insight on the importance of strong insurance.
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When shopping for a flood insurance quote, be sure to visit this FEMA-affiliated site first for insight on proper protection.
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Sets the standards for sailing education.


We hereby declare 2012 as the Year of the WordPress Meetup. You'll want to get in on this action. So what is a WordPress Meetup? Basically, it's people in a community getting together — meeting up — who share an interest in WordPress, whether they be bloggers, business users, developers, consultants, or any other category of person able to say, "I use WordPress in some way and I like it, and I want to meet other people who can say the same.