Zaydi tafsir of 80:1-10

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6 years 6 months ago - 6 years 6 months ago #694 by Pro-Alid
Salamu alaykum,

What do the Zaydi tafsirs say about the first 10 verses of Surat al-Abbasa? Twelvers claim that the first ayah which says "he frowned" does not refer to the Prophet (as opposed to the Sunni view) - what is the Zaydi position on this?

I'd also like to know who this blind man was according to the Zaydis. Was he already a Muslim or did he become Muslim after this incident?
Last edit: 6 years 6 months ago by Pro-Alid.

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6 years 6 months ago #696 by Imam Rassi Society
Thank you for your question!

As for the tafsir of the first part of Surah Abasa (Q. 80:1-10), there are three possible explanations regarding these verses. None of our sources indicate that the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him and his progeny, was somehow censured for turning his face from Ibn Umm Maktuum. Our imams criticise such narrations and deny their authenticity. The first view is that the one who frowned and turned his face from Ibn Umm Maktuum was an unnamed Companion and Allah censured such person with these verses. This is the statement of Imam Muhammad b. al-Qaasim b. Ibrahim (as) and Imam al-Hussein b. al-Qaasim (as). The second view is that the verses refer to ِ Abu Jahl who frowned and turned his face from Ibn Umm Maktuum. This is the view of Imam Abul-Fath ad-Daylami (as). The third view is that the verses refer to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him and his progeny, who frowned and turned his face from a spiritually blind man. That is, the person who he turned from was a person who was not blind in physical sight but rather one who was blind in his heart. This is the view of Imam al-Qaasim b. Ibrahim ar-Rassi (as). [Ref. Al-Masaabeeh as-Saati'a al-Anwaar].

And Allah knows best!

IRS

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6 years 5 months ago #801 by Pro-Alid
Replied by Pro-Alid on topic Zaydi tafsir of 80:1-10
Is there any linguistic basis within the authoritative lexicons on the Arabic language to say that “al-a’ma” in this ayah means that the man was spiritually blind as opposed to physically blind, or is this simply Imam al-Qaasim b. Ibrahim ar-Rassi’s ta’wil?

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6 years 5 months ago #809 by Imam Rassi Society
Thank you for your question!

As for the linguistic basis, because words are either literal or metaphorical, one can adopt either of the two as long as there is adequate evidence to justify one and/or disqualify the other. The word 'blind' appears a little more than 30 times in the Qur'an and the majority of the times (all but one), it refers to the metaphorical meaning.

The tafsir of Imam al-Qaasim ar-Rassi (as) was done from a strictly linguistic perspective and very rarely did he consult ahadith and narrations. He very vehemently denied the authenticity of those narrations that present the blind man as Ibn Umm Maktuum and the frowner as the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him and his progeny. Because there is no evidence outside of narrated reports to suggest the Sunni or Shia interpretation, Imam ar-Rassi (as) adopted the view of 'spiritual blindness' and an overall general application of the set of verses.

And Allah knows best!

IRS

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6 years 5 months ago - 6 years 5 months ago #818 by Pro-Alid
Replied by Pro-Alid on topic Zaydi tafsir of 80:1-10
Thank you for the reply.

If the Prophet did indeed turn away from a spiritually blind person, then why would Allah reprimand him for doing so? Does Imam ar-Rassi comment on this? Especially since Allah says: Hold to forgiveness; command what is right; But turn away from the ignorant. (Surat al-a'raf 7:199)
Last edit: 6 years 5 months ago by Pro-Alid.

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6 years 4 months ago #825 by Imam Rassi Society
Thank you for your question!

Unfortunately, Imam ar-Rassi (as) did not expound on these verses in any more detail to explain his unique interpretation. In my readings of the tafaaseer--Zaydi and otherwise--I haven't come across anything similar to Imam al-Qaasim ar-Rassi's interpretation.

Regardless, the reproof for turning away from a spiritually blind person seems to be directed at not only the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him and his progeny, but also anyone in general. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him and his progeny, is constantly reminded in the Qur'an to convey the message irrespective of whether the listener accepts it or not. He--and we, by extension--are to not 'frown' and 'turn our faces' from those blind at heart simply because their hearts are seemingly closed. We do not know whether such person will be purified or not. This is my understanding of Imam Rassi's tafsir.

As for your quotation of Q. 7:199, there is no contradiction in this because 'ignorant' refers to those who openly manifest opposition to the message; this does not apply in Abasa. Also, the verb 'turn' in Q. 7:199 is different from the verb used in Q. 80:2.

And Allah knows best!

IRS

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