Miracles of Prophets in Tafsir al-Manar: Review and Criticism

The authors of Tafsir al-Manar are of the opinion that taking verses based on their apparent meaning will be correct only if that meaning is not intellectually impossible. Therefore, when dealing with the verses containing the miracles of the prophets and especially the cases related to the resurrection of the dead, which generally include extraordinary works, they interpret the verses in such a way that it can be said that nothing but denying the occurrence of miracles follows. In this study, while criticizing his opinions and by rejecting the claim that the people of Jesus did not request to see a miracle, as well as adding other evidences, we intend to show that based on the Holy Qurʾān, the miracles of Jesus could not have been just a challenge and must have actually happened. Also, in verse 259 of Sūra al-Baqara, which is likely to be related to Prophet ʿUzayr, we will criticize the interpretation of the two words Labth and ʿIẓām in the Shiʿa interpretations, and we will criticize the opinions reflected in this regard in al-Manar and also the opinions reflected in some Shiʿa interpretations. These commentators have considered the way of the dead to come back to life in verse 259 of Sura al-Baqara sometimes similar to what happened to the companions of the cave, and sometimes it means a real death for them. In this study, we are going to defend the opinion that based on the Qurʾān, both opinions have the same probability of occurrence, and therefore the debate will be fruitless; Because in any case, God's purpose in showing how to revive the dead to the mentioned person has been fulfilled in the revival of his vehicle.