Imam al-Ṣadiq (A.S.)'s Methods in Interpretation of the Qur an and a Glance at the Sunni Exegetical Traditions

Knowledge about the exegetical methods of the Infallible Imams – especially Imam al-Ṣadiq (A.S.), the founder of Ja‘fari School of Law – has not only guided us toward correct and systematic use of the Qur’an, but also shows us when the Imam has employed such methods.In this article, first the exegetical traditions of Imam al-Ṣadiq (A.S.) in Sunni exegetical sources have been explored and extracted, then with a close study of them and the methods used by the Imam in the Qur’an interpretation – rather than its ta’wil – it has been clarified and included that the Imam has interpreted and elucidated the Qur’an with different methods, depending on the capacity of the listeners and the dominant atmosphere. In some instances, he would interpret the most difficult issues with the most beautiful analogies and in the simplest language. All this is apart from the esoteric instances in which the Imam has given an allegorical interpretation (ta’wil) of a specific Qur’anic verse.