A Drop From The Infinite Ocean
Sayyid Radi in his youth started the interpretation and explanation of the Qur' anic verses. His love and liking began in his childhood years when he heard the heart-appealing sweet recital of the Holy Qur'an by his mother and father every morning at his home. After finishing his learning of the Holy Scripture, he established a profound esteem and permanent link with the Divine scripture. By reciting the Holy Qur'an eloquently with concentration, he used to polish and clean the mirror of his heart. Sayyid Radi, like other humble believers and Divine scholars, every time wants to communicate with his Creator used to offer prayer; and whenever his heart was thirsty for listening God's words, recited the Holy Qur'an.
With the passing of each day, his infatuation for the Divine revelations increased more and more to the extent that he started studying various Qur'anic -disciplines and within a short period acquired profound knowledge of them, becoming an eminent Qur'anic scholar specially in the field of Tafsir (commentary). Also he memorized complete holy scripture at the age of thirty years.1 Now, apart from that sweetness and excitement of childhood years – when he enjoyed listening recital of the Holy Qur'an by his parents – in his own capacity, had discovered a fantastic world of spiritual ecstasy with infinite dimensions and riches.
Sayyid Radi become fascinated with the luminous beauty of the heavenly verses and decided writing so that at least equivalent to a drop from the infinite ocean of Qur'anic knowledge could be presented on paper. The fruits of his sincere efforts resulted his compilation of three precious books regarding the Holy Qur'an, left by Sayyid Radi as a souvenir for the future generations, which are considered as the most valuable Shi’i treasurers.
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Talkhis al-Bayan un Mojazat al-Qur'an: The pioneer book ever written about the metaphorical interpretation of the Holy Qur'an in a new style and special technique, which consists of explaining the interpretation of only those verses, whose understanding requires further explanation and utilization of other Qur'anic sciences instead, of explaining the commentary of all the verses.2 The topic of this interpretation is named "Metaphorical Interpretation of the Holy Qur'an" (Mojazat al-Qur'an), i.e. the verses whose actual meanings are opposite to their figurative or apparent wordings. (A group of learned scholars have also written books regarding the above topic, but Sayyid Radi's book Mojazat al-Qur'an happens to be the best book in this field.3
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Haqayaq al-Tavil fi Mutasbabeh al-Tanzeel is the second commentary of Sayyid Radi which has been referred by him in another book al-Mojlizat al-Nabuwyeh by different names. Unfortunately, this great masterpiece work has been lost except only a portion of it (i.e. vol. 5th remains available). Regarding this book Khateeb Baghdadi quotes from his teacher Ahmed-bin-’Umar-bin-Rooh, who said:
“Sayyid Radi has written a book about the meanings of Qur’an which is a masterpiece work and is matchless”4
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Ma’ni al-Qur’an: Regarding this commentary of Sayyid Radi the famous lineage expert Omani has written in his book al-Majd as follows:
"I have seen a volume of Sayyid Radi's commentary which was excellent and as compared to Abu Jaffer's (Shaykh Tousi commentary (Tabyan) could be ranked equivalent or may be a little bit superior to that."
Also Ibn Khalqan had said:
"The book Ma'ni al-Qur'an is a masterpiece unique 1iterary work which indicates Sayyid Radi's profound authority over grammar and linguistic.
Some other famous books written by Sayyid Radi may be listed as follows:
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Khasayas al-Iymmeh
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Nahj al-Balaghah
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al-Ziyadat -fi-Sherabi-Tamam
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Taliq Khilaf al-Fuqaha.
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Kitabi-Mojazat Athar al-Nubuwyeh.
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Taliqeh bar Ezah abi-Ali
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Al- Jayid min Sher ibn-al-Hajjaj.
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Ziyadat fi Sher ibn-al-Hojjaj:
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Mukhtar Sherabi Ishaq al-Sabi.
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Kitabi-Madar binel wa-ben abi Ishaq min al-Risail5
