محمدکاظم شاکر

The book "The The Qur’an Misinterpreted, Mistranslated, and Misread: the Aramaic Language of the The Qur’an" was published in 2006 by Gabriel Sawma. The author has claimed that the language of the Qur'an is the Syro-Aramaic, and most of its teachings are derived from Jewish-Christian sources. Among his claims, he alleges that Muslims have misunderstood the verse 116 of Surah al-Baqarah:"And they say Allah has taken to Himself a son Glory be to Him…" (Wa Qālūt takhadhal lāhu Waladāan Subĥānahu). He regards the word ‘اتَّخَذ’ (Has taken) as a distortion of the Syriac «اتَّحدَ» (has united) happened by the Qur'anic scribers.  According to this recitation, the meaning of the verse is "They said that God is united with the Son". This meaning is in accordance with the New Testament doctrine of the incarnation of God through the Son. In this paper, Gabriel Sawma's viewpoint is reviewed and criticized by two intra-religious aspects including the Qur'an and Arabic literature and extra-religious features including linguistic historical-comparative in some branches of Sami languages and interfaith research. The authors conclude that the textual and linguistic evidence prove contrary to the Sawma's claim.

There are nearly 14000 exegetical hadiths, narrated from Prophet's family, collected by some Shi'ah scholars in a number of commentaries well-known as Tafasir –e Ma'thur (traditional commentaries) in Shi'ah. In the 12th century, most of these traditions were collected in the two large collections entitled Al-Burhan fi Tafsir al-Qur'an, the work of Bahrani (d. 1107 A.H), and Nur al-Thaqalayn, the work of Huwayzi (d. 1112 A.H). These hadiths can generally be classified in three categories: 1. the hadiths explaining outward meanings of the Qur'an, 2. the hadiths expressing the inward meanings of the Qur'an, and 3. the hadiths applying the Qur'anic concepts to the certain individuals and groups of people. For example, some verses of the Qur'an have been interpreted as symbols for the Prophet, the Prophet's household and the opponents of the Prophet's family. The last type of traditions is called the hadiths of Jary (flow). The term comes from Shi'ah hadith concerning ta'wil. According to some hadiths, the Qur'an is like the sun and the moon; it flows through history as same as the sun and the moon flows in cosmos. Among 14000 exegetical hadiths of shi'ah, more than 2100 hadiths are classified as hadiths of Jary. These hadiths have been extremely criticized by some of Sunni Muslim scholars. However, some modern Quranic Shi'ah exegetes such as Muhammad Husayn Tabatabayi, the author of Al-Mizan fi Tafsir al-Qur'an hold that it was the method of Imams of Ahl al-bayt to apply a Quranic verse to all things it might be applied to. Nevertheless, our study shows that the numerous traditions in this respect have been fabricated. Many of these hadiths do not possess an authentic chain of narrators. Moreover, most of them came to Shiah hadith books via Ghulat (exaggerators) whom our Imams refused as heretics. In fact some of them are more similar to trite phrases, rather than interpretations of the Quran, like applying "ba'uza" (mosquito)(Q.2:26) to Imam Ali! There are some sound hadiths from the Imams of Shi'ah that they have denied some applications of the verses to themselves. Having clarified main exegetical concepts and presented two classifications of shi'ah exegetical hadiths, this paper examines these kinds of traditions and evaluates them with criticisms in both textual content and narrators through whom these hadiths have been narrated.

  The level of satisfaction of individuals with life is one of the important criteria in the ideal lifestyle, and "mutual satisfaction" is one of the crucial manifestations of "satisfaction with life." Speaking of "satisfaction" in bilateral relationships implies the presence of both "Rāḍī" (well- pleased) and "Marḍīyy" (pleasing) aspects for both sides of these relationships. Considering the presence or absence of these two qualities in interpersonal relationships, three conceivable assumptions are possible: 1) Both parties are "Rāḍī" with each other, hence each party is also "Marḍīyy" with the other; 2) Only one of the parties is pleased with the other, therefore one is "Rāḍī" and the other is "Marḍīyy"; 3) Both parties are not "Rāḍī" with each other, hence neither is "Marḍīyy" with the other. The best case is the first assumption, and the worst case is the third assumption. When we find ourselves in the third situation, we must strive to at least transform it into the second assumption and then elevate the second assumption to the first assumption. But how is this transformation possible? The present study suggests that in one's interactions with others, instead of expecting to find oneself "Rāḍī," one should try to "Rāḍī" the other and let oneself become "Marḍīyy" with the other; because in order to be "Rāḍī" with the other, we do not have control over all the factors that lead to satisfaction, as we cannot determine or change the behaviors of the other party according to our desires. However, everyone has the choice and actions are up to them and can act according to the desires of the other party. If both parties in all bilateral relationships follow this recommendation, they will reach the ideal situation (the first assumption), which means being "Rāḍī and Marḍīyy at the same time."