پژوهش نامه قرآن و حدیث
پیاپی 9 (پاییز و زمستان 1390)

The act of slaughtering (zebh) by ahl-e ketab (Followers of The Book) is one of the most controversial issues in Shiite jurisprudence. A quick examination reveals that the narrations related to this issue are divided into four categories: narrations absolutely prohibiting slaughtering by ahl-e ketab, narrations prohibiting slaughtering by those who are not ahl-e ketab, narrations denoting lawfulness (helliyyat) of slaughtering by ahl-e ketab if the name of Allah is uttered in doing so, and narrations denoting unconditional lawfulness of slaughtering by ahl-e ketab. These narrations are so conflicting that they cannot exist together and some have to be preferred to others. Based on the orders from the infallible Imams, we find out that ‘prohibition narrations’ are essentially acceptable and the ‘narrations denoting lawfulness of slaughtering’ have been issued out of taqqiyye (precautionary dissimulation of one’s faith).

According to Tafkik School rooted in Mirza Mehdi Isfahani’s ideas, ta’vil (esoteric interpretation) is exclusively done by the Infallible (a.s.) and, in fact, others are never allowed to carry out ta’vil unless they have to do so under highly specific conditions. Based on this viewpoint, ta’vils carried out by other exegetes, scholars especially philosophers and gnostics have no credibility and they are warned not to risk carrying out ta’vil. Proponents of Tafkik School hold that ta’vil concern the whole Quran and not merely the equivocal verses and to understand it, one should refer to hadiths. This paper delves into the approach of Tafkik School towards ta’vil.

More than sixty narrations have been offered about the revelation of the Quran upon seven letters (horoof) in reliable sources, and this issue has been the subject of an ongoing debate among the Shiite and Sunnite scholars and exegetes throughout the Islamic history. The key point, here, is that it has been perceived that all the narrations in question communicate an identical idea; hence, a lot of different views have been expressed in explicating the content of these narrations. In this article, first, the narrations in question are categorized on the basis of their content. Then, the key observations are examined. Finally, it is concluded that these narrations are related to various subjects some of which deal with the idea that the incorrect qara’at (readings) of those who are not capable of correct reading warrants forbearance.

Development of scientific theories is one of the significant issues of our time and is necessary for the progress of every discipline. Theories may be motivated by the circumstances of each discipline or they may be inspired by what happens in other disciplines. In other words, theories have either intra-disciplinary or inter-disciplinary sources. For example, inspired by a natural phenomenon or a particular verse from the Quran, a researcher may develop a theory and then he/she gives shape to it using scientific evidence. Development of scientific theories on the Quran follows the same procedure. The present article seeks to examine various dimensions of this issue.

The course of exaggeration has impressed scholars to such an extent that they themselves have exaggerated some teachings and virtues of the Infallible (p.b.u.t). The present article seeks to offer a criticism on one of their works entitled The Influence of the Exaggerators’ Thoughts on Some Work -Oriented Shiite Exegetes written by Beman-Ali Dehqan and published in Pazhouheshnameh-e Quran va Hadith, No. 5.

Various approaches are adopted to interpret the Quran: doctrinal, scholastic, modern intellectual-social, literary and deviant. This article deals with literary approach which has two variants: expository style and literary tazzavoq (tasting) style. The expository exegesis is based on an admirable, unique, and systematic style which is in contrast with the common Arabic styles and employs expository features including the most innovative, eloquent and soundest meanings. Literary tazzavoq, on the other hand, is based on a balance between substance and subject and tazzavoq is a psychological flow and an intrinsic trend in the Holy Quran, which influences one subconsciously. What makes literary approach significant is that the Quran refers to its literary, eloquent, and rhetorical features as the miraculous aspects of this holy book and challenges others in this respect. Thus, it is imperative for the exegetes to explore the eloquence and other aspects of its literary miraculousness. Given the importance of this issue, two important literary exegetical works (Tafsir al-Kashshaf and al-Tafsir al-Bayani lel-Quran), one of which dates back to the early periods of Islam and the other is related to the contemporary era, are compared here. The most important finding of the present research work is that literary approach with expository style significantly contributes to understanding and interpreting the Devine words and given the progress of eloquent skills, literary exegesis evolves constantly and now it can be pointed out that contemporary exegetes have outshone their predecessors. Among the contemporary exegetes, we may name Aisha Abdul Rahman who has offered a far more complete and beautiful interpretation of the Quran, benefitting from the endeavors of great scholars such as Zamakhshary.

The word ijtiba’ (to single out) has been mentioned 11 times in the Quran and it has two significant facets: embracing all the good people in the world and its meaning coverage. God uses ijtiba’ about those servants about whom He says “man yasha” (whoever He wants). As we know, this word is generally said to have meanings such as ‘to single out’ and ‘to collect’. However, both meanings are flawed in some respects, though in some other respects, they are applicable. For example, in studying the stories of Adam (a.s.) and Jonah (a.s.), we find out that ijtiba' cannot be a position bestowed by God, particularly following Jonah’s (a.s.) disobedience and anger. Rather, it refers to ‘opening a way when other routes are shut’. That is, God powerfully makes all provisions for an individual exactly when they are not expected and guides him by repentance at times and by righteousness at other times. In this paper, first, the views of the scholars of the past are presented and the meaning of ijtiba' is refined. Next, following a review of the new meanings in the respective Quranic verses, ‘the journey of majtoobin (the singled out) in time’ and ‘benefits of ijtiba'’ along with the ‘table displaying different meanings of ijtiba' are presented.