The Course of Ethical Development in Tafsīr al-Mīzān

In early periods of Muslim mysticism, a number of schemes were offered as to the format of a spiritual journey, but the issue has been neglected in recent periods. As a polymath, ‘Allāma Ṭabāṭabā’ī was especially concerned with the issue, talking about it in his mystical and exegetical lectures, although the latter discussions were not addressed much. This paper seeks to analyze ‘Allāma’s schemes in Tafsīr al-Mīzān in light of other remarks by him in al-Mīzān as well as other books. Such an outlook should be traced back to the writings attributed to Baḥr al-‘Ulūm, and before that, in the precious book, Mawāqi’ al-Nujūm. In my examination of ‘Allāma’s view, I will focus on his exegesis of certain verses he has appealed to and his lectures in the book, Lubb al-Lubāb. In my assessment of the views and evidence, in addition to reference to hadiths and Quranic verses concerning Islam and imān(faith), I consider how inferences were made from the verses as well as the weaknesses and strengths of such inferences, and by avoiding counterexamples, I have sought to provide different analyses of the verses appealed to. The short study yields an assessment of the coherence and cogency of two proposals by ‘Allāma and their evidence, as well as a delineation of strengths and weaknesses of the maze-like schemes of Islam and faith. Moreover, a different view of Islam and faith and their anthropological foundations can be drawn from the objections and analyses, which will be elaborated in an independent paper.