Qur’anic Exegetes on Recognizing the Essence and Components of bidʿa (heresy)

Both early and later Qur’anic exegetes have always held diverse and challenging viewpoints concerning the concept of bidʿa (heresy), as well as its essence. Thus, they have paved the way for many instrumental uses for the different Islamic theological sects and schools on the subject of bidʿa. However, what are the viewpoints of the Qur’anic exegetes concerning the essence and components of bidʿa? What caused some considerable diversities or conflicts within their religious attitudes? These are the main questions that the present article is about to pursue. Accordingly, the authors attempt to analyze and review the conceptual components of bidʿa, as well as the reasons of its implications, diversity, considering the viewpoints of both Shi’ite and Sunni Qur’anic exegetes on its literal and idiomatic meanings. The achievements of this study show that the Qur’anic exegetes have considered bidʿa as an equal concept to some other relevant ones such as “emerging order”, “secular proposition”, “legislation”, “occurrence” and “opposition”, which should all be seen in their own specific context to be meaningful and intelligible. The diversity of their viewpoints seems to be rooted in their contradictory divisions, as well as their confusion between the concept of bidʿa and some other different ones, such as invention, innovation, tradition, and legislation. Moreover, one should consider great importance for the doctrinal and religious differences between Qur’anic exegetes, which has caused the formation and growth of Salafi ideas within the Islamic societies, and the tragic sphere of accusation each other for heresy among the different religious schools and denominations as well. Javeri, M.J; Ayazi, S.M.A. (2022) Qur’anic Exegetes on Recognizing the Essence and Components of bidʿa (heresy).