Allama Tabatabai s Attitude towards the Traditions of Chronological Order of Suras

Considering the traditions of the chronological order inauthentic, Allama Tabatabai believes that we can restore the chronological order of Quranic passages through reliable ways of deduction (Ijtihad) and the context. The question is whether Allama himself has acted according to his own theory. However, traditions of chronological order are among the reliable sources for determining the chronological order of the Suras and verses. Some commentators have only counted on these traditions towards finding the chronological order. However, some others consider them unreliable and count on the context of Suras and verses for this purpose. Allama has a confirmatory and supplementary approach towards traditions generally, but he holds that the traditions of chronological order are not reliable at all. He presents certain arguments to prove his hypothesis, but they are to be reviewed and analyzed. On the other hand, he has not acted according to his own theory in Al Mizan Commentary. He does not refer to any tradition at all in some cases relying merely on Ijtihad. Sometimes he refers to traditions as further evidence for his Ijtihad and in certain cases, he turns to a critical analysis of traditions. This approach indicates that we can not follow a single method and it is necessary to proceed to a combined method of deduction and tradition.