پژوهش نامه قرآن و حدیث
پیاپی 4 (تابستان 1387)

In the investigation of Quranic verses concerning Divine Attributes we encounter some verses that superficially attribute creatures’ qualities and organs to God which are called anthropomorphic verses. Islamic theologians have adopted different approaches to description and interpretation of such verses. In order to be freed from accusation of anthropomorphism on the one hand and avoid ta’wil of Quranic verses keeping their apparent meaning on the other، Asha’ira، as a great Sunni theologian school، have presented a rule entitled “without quality” (bila kayf). This essay deals with explanation and criticism of that rule.

“Readings in their genesis and transformation” is title of a part of the book al-Tamhid fi ‘Ulum al- Quran written by Ayatollah Muhammad Hadi Ma’rifat. In this essay، his perspectives on some such subjects as seven-fold readings، nature of Quranic revelation، readings not being mutawatir، criteria of acceptance a correct reading، and factors that cause differences are surveyed and criticized.

Doubtless، Quranic readings had fundamental influence upon syntax. In order to expound rules of Arabic language، grammarians benefited from readings too much. This fact has created an unbreakable relation between syntax and readings. Since Quranic readings contain purest Arabic accents، they are considered in a special way by syntax experts who composed several books entitled I’rab al-Quran. It may be said that grammarians could not precisely expound rules and points of Arabic language and syntactic evidence without benefiting from readings. In expounding syntactic rules، some later grammarians rejected and negated some readings، but the science of readings shared a lot in expansion and variation of Arabic language rules.

Abrahamic religions are text-pivoted creeds. Believers have always been in search for understanding what God has meant by revealed propositions through using method of text understanding as well as consideration of characteristics of revealed texts. Traditionally، Jews and Muslims believe in divinity of terms of Torah and Quran، while Christians consider human element as playing a role in the Scripture as well. Nowadays this perspective is expounded among liberal Christians in such a way that the role of human element became much more significant than divine one. Some Contemporary Muslim intellectuals have generalized such explanations to the Quran. Expounding various perspectives concerning whether the revelation in the Bible and Quran are divine or man-made، this essay concludes that different styles of those two books prevent new explanations treating Quranic terms as being man-made.

Al-Mizan and al-Tafsir al-Kabir are compared in this essay in terms of methodology. It will become clear thereby that on the basis of which criteria al-Allama al-Tabatabaee has accepted or rejected al-Fakhr al-Razi’s thoughts. It should be noted that several differences of them are caused by their fundamental beliefs while so many others refer to their research methodology.

Among realms being dealt with by sunna in general and prophetic sunna in particular is medicine and hygiene of body and psych. It is attempted in this essay to answer some questions posed concerning authenticity of those hadiths، such as: Considering their source and chain of transmission، at which level of validity do medical hadiths stand? Assuming validity of their source and authenticity of their chain of transmission، what is the criterion for their validity? In other words، should such hadiths be accepted devotionally like juristic hadiths، or should they be accepted only if they are proved by definite، certain achievements of science? Generally speaking، can such realms as medicine and hygiene be included in the scope of religion and prophecy of the holy prophet? May the religious realm be defined through consideration of medical hadiths? And the like.

Knowledge of and commitment to imama and religious authority of Ahl al-Bayt are provable through consideration of Quranic stories. The reason is that destiny of Islamic Umma is precisely similar to that of previous notions whose fates are reported in various Quranic stories. It is attempted in this essay to prove imama and religious authority of Imams of Ahl al-Bayt on the basis of Quranic verses.