Critique of Viewpoints in Determining the Referent of Sā il in the First Verse of Sūrat al-Ma ārij

By maximal focus on the Sunnī sources and examining the probable viewpoints about the referent of sā’il (asker) and its reasons, this research has tried to search an answer for the question as to why are the traditions and Revelation occasions different about this issue and to what degree has this difference been involved in determining the referent of sā’il. Thus, by exploring into hadiths and considering their similarity in stating the relation between verse 32 of Sūrat al-Anfāl and the verse of punishment, the place of befalling punishment or the silence of some people about it, the historical evidence, context of the verses, and order of Revelation, it has examined them textually and in terms of their chain of transmission, and concluded that while a misrepresentation has been taken place about the name sā’il, the theological motives have been very effective in distorting some facts and determination of the referent of sā’il and this very motives among the later scholars has caused some to deny the relation between this verse and verse 32 of Sūrat al-Anfāl.