1. Ask A Question About Islam And Muslims
  2. Ask A Question About Islam And Muslims

Ask A Question About Islam And Muslims

108 Questions

Is there any single commentary of the Quran that is considered to be the best Shia Tafsir?
Abbas Di Palma

as salam alaikum

there are different types of tafsir. One is the tafsir based on reports, mainly from Imam al-Baqir and Imam al-Sadiq, peace bu upon them, like Tafsir al-al-'Ayyashi, Tafsir al-Qummi and other later works; although many ulama casted doubts on the authenticity of many of these reports, others have made use of them so we don't find unanimity in this regard. Other tafsirs focus on different qira'at, Arabic language, opinions of sahabah, tabi'in, other scholars and their reasonings: that is the case for the Tafsir of Shaykh Tusi and Allamah Tabrisi. Others emphasized the explanation of the Qur'an through the Qur'an, Quranic analysis,  intellectual and theological (and even philosophical) discussions; that is the case of Tafsir al-Mizan by 'Allamah Tabataba'i and those who have followed his methodology.

It is difficult to universally establish what is the"best shia tafsir" because it depends on the conclusions of singular scholars, students and researchers, and many times personal tendencies and "taste" play also a role in it. 

With prayers for your success.
Do the Shi'a believe in saints as the Sufi's do?
Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi

No.

Our divine leaders are the Prophets and the Infallible Imams and their sincere followers. 

We believe that our absolute obedience must be to Allah, the Prophet (SAWA) and the Infallible Ahlul Bayt (AS). Beside them, No saint or scholar etc has the status of absolute obedience on us.

If fact, there is no need at all for saints in Shia Islam as the divine leadership of Ahlul Bayt (AS) is the real leadership for us.

Wassalam.
Do the Shi'a believe in saints as the Sufi's do?
Zoheir Ali Esmail

Bismillah

Thank you for your question. If by saints you mean people that have reached closeness to Allah due to their efforts in worship, developing their faith and knowledge, passing trials and tribulations and other such qualities then there is no doubt that Shias not only accept the existence of saints but advocate a path to realize that potential in every person. The most perfect friends of God are the holy Prophet (saw) and his Household (as) as well as the prophets (as) and all of those who follow their footsteps have a place among the friends of God.

May you always be successful and be included among God's chosen friends
Who is the "beast of the earth - دابة الأرض" according to Shi'a understanding? And can someone explain it?
Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi

The meaning of Daabbat al Ardh is Not beast of the earth at all. We should not be misled by wrong translations. Baabbat al-Ardh is any being which moves on earth. Some people wrongly think that it means an animal. While in the Holy Qu’ran
we read that every moving creature is a Daabbah as Allah (SWT) says in
Surah Hud verse number 6 : “There is no Daabbah on the earth but its
sustenance is from Allah (SWT)”. And also in Surah Nahl verse 61 : “If
Allah (SWT) blames people because of the wrong they do, no Daabbah will
remain on the earth”. Which means all human beings are also Daabbah. In
Surah Al Anfal verse 22 : “Verily, the worst of Daabbah with Allah
(SWT) are those who are deaf and dumb who don’t reflect (don’t
understand)”. So Daabbah is not only an animal but also all the human
beings are Dabbah as well. The verse in the Holy Qur’an which is
regarding Daabbat al Ardh was discussed among many scholars according
to the references of their knowledge, Those who do not follow the
Ahlul Bayt (AS), they claimed that the Daabbah is an unusual animal
which has abnormal acts, but this understanding goes against the verse
itself when Allah (SWT) says in Surah al-Naml verse 82 : “And when the
word of torment is fulfilled against them, we shall bring out from the
earth, a moving creature (Daabbah from the earth) to speak to them that most of mankind did not believe with certainty in the verses of Allah (SWT)”. So this is the
act of this special creature and it cannot be an animal who speaks the
facts which are known only to the prophets and their successors.
This Daabbah itself will be a miracle from Allah (SWT).
The scholars who follow Ahlul Bayt (AS) understand the real meaning of
this verse from the authentic Hadeeths which says that Daabbah
according to the Hadeeth narrated by Huthaifah Ibn al Yaman that the Holy
Prophet (SAWA) explained this verse and said that the Daabbah will be
supported by Allah (SWT) and no enemy will harm this Daabbah nor can
escape from this Daabbah and this Daabbah will stamp on the Mo’min
forehead that he is a Mo’min and will write on the forehead of a
Kaafir that he is a Kaafir and the Daabbah will be carrying the stick
of Prophet Musa and the ring of Prophet Sulaiman (ref : Majma’ al
Bayan by al Tabrasi).

We have another narration in Tafseer Ali ibn Ibrahim narrated from
Imam Ja’far as Sadiq (AS) that the meaning of Daabbah is none but Ameer
ul Mo’meneen (AS) (ref : Majma’ al Bayan by al Tabrasi). Another
narration from Tafseer al Ayyashi gives the same meaning. In Bihaar ul
Anwaar Volume 53  Page 52, authentic chain of narrators from Imam
Ja’far as Sadiq (AS) state that the Holy Prophet (SAWA) entered the
Masjid in Madinah and saw Ameer ul Mo’meneen (AS) sleeping and putting
his head on sand as a pillow. The Holy Prophet (SAWA) put his hands on
the legs of Ameer ul Mo’meneen (AS) and told him : “Get up O Dabbaat
of Allah (SWT)”. One of the companions said : “O Holy Prophet (SAWA),
shall we also call each other with this name?” The Holy Prophet (SAWA)
said : “No. By Allah (SWT) this name is only for Ameer ul Mo’meneen
(AS) and he has been mentioned in the Book of Allah (SWT) (Surah Naml
verse 82)”. And the Holy Prophet (SAWA) told Ameer ul Mo’meneen (AS) :
“O Ali, at the end of time Allah (SWT) will bring you up in the best
of shape with a marker with which you will mark your enemies”.

We have also a mention that Imam al Mahdi (ATFS) will mark the
believers and the non-believers (Tafseer Abul Futooh al Raazi Volume 8
Page 23).

Wasalaam.