A Comparative and Evaluative Study on the Quality of Torment of Metamorphism in the Views of Scholars and Commentators

Torment of metamorphism is a reprimand in divine tradition which afflicts a particular individual or a community due to their deviation in morality and belief. This tradition is reported in two major ways in Quranic verses; a) Formal (carnal) metamorphism is particular to Bani Israil by which they were afflicted due to their disobedience in unlawful hunting (fishing) and use of deceit and b) spiritual transformation is a general phenomenon to which all human beings are exposed. The latter is reported through different languages in many Quranic verses. Shiite and Sunni commentators have adopted different views regarding the disfigurement of Bani Israil. This has led to three different positions between them which are grounded in different reasons. Scholars, advocates of Sadraic philosophy in particular, while observing Quranic verses and tradition, employ the theory of heavenly reincarnation and avail themselves of explanations and sub-explanations which include both inward and outward transformation. These views are according to the dependence of body on soul and consideration for intermediary type and hypo-type. This research has employed content analysis to study the quality of torment of transformation in the views of scholars and commentators.