The Critique of the Semantic Approaches of Touch (Más) Term in the Verse of No One Touch It except the Purified Ones لا یمسه إلا المطهرون

There are three approaches among Imami Scholars about the semantic of “touch” (más) word in the verse of “no one touch it except the purified ones” from the beginning until now. They are the inward touch, outward touch and generalize (widespread) touch. It has been defined as an outward touch in the first approach and it is understood that the body attachment of the Quran verses is prohibited by the jurisprudential decree (ordinance hukm) without ritual purity (taharat). The penta (5) reasons of this approach are using the “touch” (más) term in the attachment of two things and the pronoun «ها» of لا یمسه refers to the Quran or Infallibles or the prophet’s traditions or the opposition of conscience. The second view mentions that the “touch” (más) term refers to the perception of the Quranic realities and has been justified with reasons such as the style of the verse, the space of the descent of the Quran, the interpretive traditions, the meaning indication of the purified ones (muttaharun) to the spiritual purification and the pronoun «ها» of لا یمسه refers to the Book well-guarded (i. e. Al-Lauh Al-Mahfuz). According to the third approach, “touch” (más) means absolute touch that includes external and spiritual touches and it has been justified with the absoluteness of touch (más) term and purified ones. These three approaches have a critical look to each other and whereas they clarify reasons, one another criticize and reject. This note re-observes and evaluates these approaches and meanwhile criticizing the reasons, it has determined the preferred view.