Reappraisal of the Ahl al-Bayt's (A.S.) Esoteric Interpretations (Ta wīs) in Traditions of Nūr al-Thaqalayn Interpretation

A part of Ahl al-Bayt’s (A.S.) interpretation are their esoteric interpretations (ta’wīlī) traditions, which seem to be inconsistent with the current understanding of the verses of the Qur’ān. This part has since long ago been open to discussion; some have dealt with it with the aim of better understanding the Imam’s (A.S.) teachings, and some with the aim of rejecting and denigrating them. Naturally, the researcher’s criterion for studying and analyzing the traditions in any of the researches carried out has been different from others. Now, the questions arises as to what categories are the Ahl al-Byat’s (A.S.) ta’wīlī traditions divisible as based on the method and process of ta’wīlī (and not subject of ta’wīlī)? It is attempted to reappraise the ta’wīlī traditions of Nūr al-Thaqalayin interpretation to extract, within research limits, the process of ta’wīl according to the existing clear statements in Ahl al-Bayt’s (A.S.) sayings. This research finds out that, in Nūr al-Thaqalayin interpretation, the processes that can be set as the basis for identifying and classifying the Ahl al-Byat’s (A.S.) ta’wīlī traditions are numerous. Some of them are as follows: application of a general to one or some of the referents; predicating the verse as allegory; applicability (jary); introducing the referents of the verse (exclusive, non-exclusive); explaining the time of complete fulfilment of the content of the verse; and other instances that this research deals with.