Interpretive Theological Researches

Abstract The issue of the "World of Dharr" (ʿĀlam al-Dharr) is one of the significant Quranic topics that has consistently attracted attention and sparked disagreement among Muslim scholars. The primary sources of this discussion are verses 172-173 of Surah Al-Aʿrāf, known as the "Covenant Verse" (Āyat al-Mīthāq), and numerous narrations concerning the "World of Dharr." Some Islamic scholars argue that the apparent meaning of this verse and related narrations indicates that before creating humans in this world, God fashioned them in a material realm with minuscule bodies (ajsām dharrīya), infused them with souls—and thus intellect and consciousness—and took their acknowledgment of His Lordship, thereby establishing His proof over all. Consequently, humans have no excuse for negligence or deviation in the Hereafter. This realm is referred to as the "World of Dharr." Other scholars, however, deny the existence of such a realm based on a series of objections they have raised against interpreting the Covenant Verse in this manner. In the present article, the theory of the existence of the "World of Dharr" is defended, and all these objections are comprehensively addressed.

Abstract This research seeks to examine and criticize the Quranic evidence for the “theory of the permissibility of worshiping all religions and sects, divine and non-divine.” “Theory of taabbod” is one of the theological views and opinions of Seyyed Kamal al-Haydari, who has put forward it with the focus of decisiveness and relying on three basic principles. The first principle is that there must be a reason for choosing any religion or belief, the second principle is that the correspondence of the reason with the reality is not a condition, and the third principle is that a decisive person cannot act contrary to his reason. Seyyed Kamal al-Haydari argued with verses from the Quran to prove these three principles and concluded that worshiping religions is permissible. The main question in the present research is what are the problems and criticisms of the Quranic evidence for these three principles? By analyzing the theory of taabbod and its principles, the author has tried to explain the shortcomings and problems of the three principles and its Quranic evidence using a descriptive analytical method and from this perspective evaluate and criticize the theory of taabbod. The findings of the research indicate that none of the aforementioned principles can be absolutely defended, and the Quranic evidence cited by Kamal al-Haydari does not support the claims of the theory of taabbod.

Abstract It is essential to avoid introducing presuppositions in understanding and interpreting the Quran, but this does not mean that various scientific and intellectual knowledge and findings cannot and should not play a role in understanding and interpreting the Quran. Allama Tabataba'i's intellectual and philosophical insight has given Tafsir al-Mizan a special place among commentators; for example, he has been able to interpret the issue of Asm'a and Elm al-asm'a in verses 30 to 33 of Surah Al-Baqarah in a much more profound way by utilizing his intellectual and philosophical knowledge, without going beyond the framework of the correct method of interpretation and imposing a presupposition on the verses of the Quran. Allama's answer to the question of what is meant by names and the science of names and what is the connection between the science of names and the qualification for the divine caliphate is that these names or their attributes are supreme beings in the presence of Allah; They are actually superior beings to earthly beings, including Adam himself, and they are the mediators of divine grace to inferior beings, and the relationship between them and earthly beings is a cause-and-effect relationship. Adam’s knowledge of the names or the names of the names is a present knowledge, unlike the knowledge of the angels, which is an acquired knowledge and was obtained by teaching Adam. His present knowledge of the names and means of divine grace, which is a sign of his existential connection with them, is the criterion for his caliphate and his suitability to succeed God on earth. The present article has been conducted using an analytical-descriptive method and a comparison between philosophy and the Quran.

Abstract آیه یازده سوره غافر، با اشاره به دو مرحله «اماته» و «احیاء»، از جمله آیات کلیدی قرآن در تبیین مسائل معاد است که تفسیرهای متعدد را میان مفسران فریقین برانگیخته است. این پژوهش با روش توصیفی - تحلیلی و تطبیقی، به بررسی دیدگاه بانو مجتهده امین به‌عنوان یکی از مفسران برجسته زن معاصر امامیّه در تفسیر این آیه می‌پردازد. نوآوری اساسی این تحقیق در آن است که برای نخستین‌بار، دیدگاه تفسیری یک بانوی شیعه را در چهارچوبی نظام‌مند و با رویکردی سه‌بُعدی تحلیل می‌کند.1. تبیین مبانی فلسفی-عرفانی دیدگاه بانو امین در مسئله مراحل حیات و ممات. ۲. مقایسه تطبیقی این دیدگاه با آرای مفسران امامیه و اهل‌سنت. ۳. نقد و ارزیابی ادله تفاسیر رقیب بر اساس شواهد قرآنی، روایی، زبانی و عقلی. یافته‌ها نشان می‌دهد که یکی از دیدگاهای بانو امین که با محوریت اثبات «حیات برزخی» است با اصول ادبیات و باورهای شیعه و ایات دیگر قران و دیدگاه مفسران همخوانی و همراهی دارد. اما تفسیر دیگری از او که با عبارت «قیل» از ان یاد می کند بیشتر با تفاسیر اهل سنت همراهی می کند و با چالش های جدی از جمله انکار اموزهای شیعه نظیر حیات برزخی و رجعت مواجه است. از دیگر یافته ای این پژوهش این است که بر حسب تفسیر بانو امین باورهای نظیر حیات قبل از تولد، حیات برزخی، رجعت، انکار تناسخ، تعدد نفخ صور، سوال و عذاب قبر ...از ایه برداشت می شود.

Abstract The issue of the origin of religion is one of the controversial issues between theists and atheists. Sometimes the debate is about the origin of true religion and sometimes it is about the origin of false religions. Allameh Tabataba'i is one of the prominent contemporary theologians who, from a theistic perspective and looking at the verses of the Quran, hadiths and historical evidence, has put forward theories in this field. Considering that these theories have been presented sporadically in the twenty volumes of Al-Mizan and in Allameh's other books and have not been presented and typified in a coherent and comprehensive manner, in this article, focusing on Allameh's works, especially Tafsir Al-Mizan, we intend to extract and typify Allameh Tabataba'i's theories on the origin of false religions using a descriptive and analytical method. The result of the research is that these factors are divided into three types: insight, tendency and action. Insight factors include matters such as comparing divine action to human action, error in applying religious tradition to the dictates of nature, granting the originality and independence to imaginary intercessors, error in identifying the instance of God, belief in the self-sufficiency and historicity of the true religion. Attitudinal factors include matters such as sensual desires, the motivation to gain benefit, and the motivation to ward off harm. Action factors include matters such as differences resulting from the oppression and corruption of some religious scholars, physical division and dispersion, giving religion an ethnic flavor, attracting the hearts of followers of idolatry, splitting the true religion, deviation in describing Godhood, establishing a tradition of recommendation to ensure the happiness of eternal life, honoring tribal elders by making idols of them, and openly expressing mystical truths.

Abstract In the present era, the confrontation with atheistic challenges and skepticism has highlighted more than ever the necessity of rethinking theological and exegetical foundations of monotheism. This research aims to explain how theological theories influence the understanding and interpretation of monotheistic verses in addressing contemporary issues, through a comparative study of Fakhr al-Razi’s views in Mafatih al-Ghayb and Allameh Tabataba’i’s perspectives in Al-Mizan fi Tafsir al-Qur’an. The research method employed is analytical-descriptive and comparative, conducted through a library-based approach and the examination of primary sources. The main findings indicate that the theological approaches of scholars and exegetes, particularly in explaining divine attributes and arguments for the existence of God, have had a significant impact on shaping interpretive methods of monotheistic verses. While Fakhr al-Razi, with his Ash‘ari theological foundations and distinctive rationalism, offers an interpretation of monotheism centered on defending the divine essence and attributes against doubts, Allameh Tabataba’i, through a philosophical-mystical approach grounded in existential monotheism, presents a deeper and more comprehensive interpretation of monotheistic verses capable of addressing modern intellectual challenges. These differences, in confronting contemporary intellectual issues, provide diverse approaches to explaining and defending monotheism and pave the way for new theological-exegetical discourses in today’s intellectual context.