Journal of Tafsir-e Ahl al-Bayt [Ahl al-Bayt’s Exegesis] No. 2 Released

The straight path (al-Ṣīrāṭ al-Mustaqīm) is another expression for the route of true worship; that is to say, the specificities of the worship of God are identical with the characteristics of the straight path. Similarly, the acts and rituals of the revealed law or religion with which man should comply in the course of his thralldom correspond to the manifestations of the straight path. These specificities consist in correspondence to rational standards, the following of the truth, moderateness, clarity and unity of the path. In this context, we have highlighted the necessary consequences of these specificities one by one, the problem of pluralism and the difference between ‘Ṣiraṭ’ and ‘Sabīl’.

Thematic exegesis is intended to bring to light the Qurʾānic theories and perspectives from a collection of verses. There are a great number of traditions handed down from the Prophet and his household based on such approach. The present paper examines Ahl al-Bayt’s method in thematic exegesis to discover its types and properties. In this context, such investigations as search for keywords, search on the basis of themes and subjects, facts related to the Qurʾān, and thorough examination of verses, are highly significant. 

In spite of the scholars’ efforts to highlight the great significance of the Qurʾān in the works of Shaykh Mufīd, there are no serious studies to treat his approach to the Qurʾānic commentary. Relied on the Ahl al-Bayt’s true teachings, he took a rational approach, examining or criticizing the reports coming down from Ahl al-Bayt. The present paper sheds light on the principles and methods applied by Shaykh Mufīd in his commentary on the Qurʾān.

A number of critics of Islam have endeavoured, among others, to describe Qurʾānic teachings as violent, harsh and inconsistent with moral standards. In order to support their claim they have quoted these Qurʾānic verses that treat the punishment of the wrongdoers by stoning, cutting off the hands, retaliation, etc, and so they have attempted to cast doubts about the Qurʾān. The present paper examines these verses in light of the traditions and verifies by evidence that severity and intensity in divine-law rulings are meant to reform the individual and society and to draw man’s attention to the necessary consequences of his acts. On this basis, it is unwise to charge the Qurʾān with violence and disregarding moral principles due to the legitimation of some penal laws.

The sacred texts in Christianity and Islam pay tribute to, and express admiration for, Mary. At the beginning of the paper we have shed light on the lexical meaning of the word Maryam / Mary, given that linguistic studies play a key role in comparative religion studies. We have then examined Mary’s rank from the perspective of the Christians as in reflected in the Gospel. We have, in the end, provided a portrait of this supreme lady in light of the Qurʾānic verses and replied to the erroneous impressions posed by the Christians owing to their misunderstanding of the wise Book. The efforts of the contemporary Christian reformers to purify the Gospel of legends are nothing but a compliance with the call of the Qurʾān long ago.

The present paper studies the Shīʿī exegetical heritage in Medina in the age of the Īmāms (upon whom be peace), its rank, its characteristics and its main categories. Fihrist Musannifī al-Shīʿa by al-Najāshī and al-Fihrist by al-Ṭūsī represent the two reliable sources of this study. We have laid our hands on 30 authors with 43 Qurʾānic works during that period, which unveils the Shīʿītes’ interest in the Qurʾān and their need for such writings.

he present paper provides an extensive bibliography of Tafsīr al-Qummī and its author ʿAli ibn Ibrāhīm. It covers all the editions, translations and manuscripts of the book in addition to the works written concerning it in Arabic and Persian. These sources can be classified into 14 independent books, 73 related studies, 49 essays and 8 theses. Finally, we have added five topical indices in order to make it easy for the reader to refer to the sources in different manners.