The Critical Analysis of Sunni and Shi’ite Commentators on the Axis of Disagreement in Surah an-Nisa: 59

Sunni and Shi’ite commentators have presented various views on “the subject of disagreement” in Surah an-Nisa: 59. Some of them have included all the matters in this world and hereafter as the subject of disagreement in that verse. Considering the fact that God and the Messenger have been introduced as the reference for solving disputes in the rest of the verse, some other commentators have regarded only religious events including theological rules and beliefs as the subject of disagreement. On the other hand, some interpreters related the abovementioned subject just to the rules regulated by God and the Messenger while others interpreted that as associated with indecisive rules and accordingly, interpreted the verse as an evidence for Ijma (consensus) and Qiyas (deductive analogy). In the view of some scholars, the axis of disagreement refers to Olelamar -those in authority- whom Muslims have been ordered to obey in the previous words in the verse. The present study conducted through descriptive analysis and with the purpose of critical evaluation of Sunni and Shi'ite commentators' views on the subject of disagreement in the aforementioned verse, attempts to explain this issue, mention relative research questions, and also review the perspective of the commentators in this regard.  Then, a viewpoint which considers Olelamr (those in authority) as the axis of disagreement is chosen and displaying the drawbacks of other viewpoints, the study regards other perspectives as inappropriate. Finally, with reference to the existing evidences in the verse and historical-narrative clues, the causes of choosing the last viewpoint is explained.
Received: 17/7/2018   |   Accepted: 24/11/2018