An Objection to the Tafseer 2:31 (Tafsir Al-Mizan)

[Inspector]

Salam,

A friend of mine has raised an objection on the Tafseer al-Mizan (specifically verse 2:31) of Ayatullah Tabataba’i (Late). I am presenting herein his objection first:

وَعَلَّمَ آدَمَ الْأَسْمَاءَ كُلَّهَا ثُمَّ عَرَضَهُمْ عَلَى الْمَلَائِكَةِ فَقَالَ أَنْبِئُونِي بِأَسْمَاءِ هَٰؤُلَاءِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ صَادِقِينَ}

2:31] And He taught Adam all the names, then presented them to the angels; then He said: Tell me the names of those if you are right.
 

The objection mainly belongs to the tafseer of word هَٰؤُلَاءِ (these/them). According to Tafseer al-Mizan, Ayatullah Tabataba’i stated therein that:

"The Arabic pronoun “them” used in “then presented them” is made for rational beings, those who have life, sense and understanding"

Two verses were presented as an evidence where (allegedly) the word هَٰؤُلَاءِ (them) is used for non-rational beings. Here are the verses:

وَيَعْبُدُونَ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ مَا لَا يَضُرُّهُمْ وَلَا يَنْفَعُهُمْ وَيَقُولُونَ هَٰؤُلَاءِ شُفَعَاؤُنَا عِنْدَ اللَّهِ ۚ

10:18] And they serve beside Allah what can neither harm them nor profit them, and they say: These are our intercessors with Allah.

The other verse was 21:99

لَوْ كَانَ هَٰؤُلَاءِ آلِهَةً مَا وَرَدُوهَا ۖ

21:99] Had these been gods, they would not have come to it (Hell)

The claim was that in both of the above two verses, the pronoun هَٰؤُلَاءِ is used for idols which are non-rational beings.

I thought that making a thread of this objection would be a source to call people towards the Quran and the hardwork done by our scholars in doing tafaseer of the blessed & profound verses of Quran. I have responded to my friend what I understand of the two verses which have been presented as evidence. For the readers, I am inviting them to open the holy book, read the verses, translations, tafseer & reason of revelation and try to respond to the objection either in negation or in affirmation with proper reasoning. 

Wassalam! 

 

 

[Inspector]

Here is the link of tafsir al-Mizan for your reference:

https://almizan.org/vol/1/149-159

[Muslim2010]

7 hours ago, Inspector said:

Salam,

A friend of mine has raised an objection on the Tafseer al-Mizan (specifically verse 2:31) of Ayatullah Tabataba’i (Late). I am presenting herein his objection first:

وَعَلَّمَ آدَمَ الْأَسْمَاءَ كُلَّهَا ثُمَّ عَرَضَهُمْ عَلَى الْمَلَائِكَةِ فَقَالَ أَنْبِئُونِي بِأَسْمَاءِ هَٰؤُلَاءِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ صَادِقِينَ}

2:31] And He taught Adam all the names, then presented them to the angels; then He said: Tell me the names of those if you are right.
 

The objection mainly belongs to the tafseer of word هَٰؤُلَاءِ (these/them). According to Tafseer al-Mizan, Ayatullah Tabataba’i stated therein that:

"The Arabic pronoun “them” used in “then presented them” is made for rational beings, those who have life, sense and understanding"

Two verses were presented as an evidence where (allegedly) the word هَٰؤُلَاءِ (them) is used for non-rational beings. Here are the verses:
 

فَكَيْفَ إِذَا جِئْنَا مِن كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ بِشَهِيدٍ وَجِئْنَا بِكَ عَلَىٰ هَٰؤُلَاءِ شَهِيدًا

How will it be, then, when We bring from every people a witness and bring you as a witness against these? (4:41)

وَيَوْمَ نَبْعَثُ فِي كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ شَهِيدًا عَلَيْهِم مِّنْ أَنفُسِهِمْ ۖ وَجِئْنَا بِكَ شَهِيدًا عَلَىٰ هَٰؤُلَاءِ ۚ وَنَزَّلْنَا عَلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ تِبْيَانًا لِّكُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةً وَبُشْرَىٰ لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ

And on the day when We will raise up in every people a witness against them from among themselves, and bring you as a witness against these-- and We have revealed the Book to you explaining clearly everything, and a guidance and mercy and good news for those who submit. (16:89)

[Inspector]

9 hours ago, Muslim2010 said:

فَكَيْفَ إِذَا جِئْنَا مِن كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ بِشَهِيدٍ وَجِئْنَا بِكَ عَلَىٰ هَٰؤُلَاءِ شَهِيدًا

How will it be, then, when We bring from every people a witness and bring you as a witness against these? (4:41)

وَيَوْمَ نَبْعَثُ فِي كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ شَهِيدًا عَلَيْهِم مِّنْ أَنفُسِهِمْ ۖ وَجِئْنَا بِكَ شَهِيدًا عَلَىٰ هَٰؤُلَاءِ ۚ وَنَزَّلْنَا عَلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ تِبْيَانًا لِّكُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةً وَبُشْرَىٰ لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ

And on the day when We will raise up in every people a witness against them from among themselves, and bring you as a witness against these-- and We have revealed the Book to you explaining clearly everything, and a guidance and mercy and good news for those who submit. (16:89)

Salam Brother, 

The word هَٰؤُلَاءِ appeared in more than 40 verses of Quran. In all of these verses it means to indicate intellectual, living beings having senses & understanding. 

So I completely agree with the tafseer of Ayatullah Tabataba'i with respect to verse 2:31. 

You need to look at the verses presented as an evidence where هَٰؤُلَاءِ is used for non-intellectual beings (as alleged by my friend). 

Lets have a look at the first verse:

17 hours ago, Inspector said:

وَيَعْبُدُونَ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ مَا لَا يَضُرُّهُمْ وَلَا يَنْفَعُهُمْ وَيَقُولُونَ هَٰؤُلَاءِ شُفَعَاؤُنَا عِنْدَ اللَّهِ ۚ

10:18] And they serve beside Allah what can neither harm them nor profit them, and they say: These are our intercessors with Allah.

If this verse equally be applied to the idols as well as intellectual, living beings, we can have two possible situations:

a) If applied for the idols, how can we fix the problem where this verse says "these are our intercessors"? 

The ones who cannot even recognize them, cannot speak to them, cannot listen & see them cannot become their intercessors. Technically, for being an intercessors, it is prerequisite to be a living being with intellect, senses & understanding. 

b) If applied to intellectual beings with understanding & senses, only then this verse would make sense. As the ones being served, could recognize and listen to the ones who are serving them. 

This is the very reason why our opponents throw this verse on us and accuse us of worshipping Prophet & Imams (عليهم السلام). 

I will discuss the second verse too, but after a while. Meanwhile, please feel free to share your thoughts on that.

Wassalam

[Ashvazdanghe]

On 12/22/2023 at 7:24 AM, Inspector said:

a) If applied for the idols, how can we fix the problem where this verse says "these are our intercessors"? 

The ones who cannot even recognize them, cannot speak to them, cannot listen & see them cannot become their intercessors. Technically, for being an intercessors, it is prerequisite to be a living being with intellect, senses & understanding. 

b) If applied to intellectual beings with understanding & senses, only then this verse would make sense. As the ones being served, could recognize and listen to the ones who are serving them. 

Salam for validity of both at first they must be considered  as dependant beings to Allah which they can do  intercession only by permission of Allah .

Quote

وَيَعْبُدُونَ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ مَا لَا يَضُرُّهُمْ وَلَا يَنْفَعُهُمْ وَيَقُولُونَ هَٰؤُلَاءِ شُفَعَاؤُنَا عِنْدَ اللَّهِ ۚ

10:18] And they serve beside Allah what can neither harm them nor profit them, and they say: These are our intercessors with Allah.

this is for vital point for not accepting intercession of Idols & false gods because their worshipers , worship them as independent beings from Allah which they think these beings are independent from Allah which in reality these beings can't cause anything in favor or against their worshippers. 

[Al-Hussayni]

On 12/21/2023 at 10:42 AM, Inspector said:

Salam,

A friend of mine has raised an objection on the Tafseer al-Mizan (specifically verse 2:31) of Ayatullah Tabataba’i (Late). I am presenting herein his objection first:

وَعَلَّمَ آدَمَ الْأَسْمَاءَ كُلَّهَا ثُمَّ عَرَضَهُمْ عَلَى الْمَلَائِكَةِ فَقَالَ أَنْبِئُونِي بِأَسْمَاءِ هَٰؤُلَاءِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ صَادِقِينَ}

2:31] And He taught Adam all the names, then presented them to the angels; then He said: Tell me the names of those if you are right.
 

The objection mainly belongs to the tafseer of word هَٰؤُلَاءِ (these/them). According to Tafseer al-Mizan, Ayatullah Tabataba’i stated therein that:

"The Arabic pronoun “them” used in “then presented them” is made for rational beings, those who have life, sense and understanding"

Two verses were presented as an evidence where (allegedly) the word هَٰؤُلَاءِ (them) is used for non-rational beings. Here are the verses:

وَيَعْبُدُونَ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ مَا لَا يَضُرُّهُمْ وَلَا يَنْفَعُهُمْ وَيَقُولُونَ هَٰؤُلَاءِ شُفَعَاؤُنَا عِنْدَ اللَّهِ ۚ

10:18] And they serve beside Allah what can neither harm them nor profit them, and they say: These are our intercessors with Allah.

The other verse was 21:99

لَوْ كَانَ هَٰؤُلَاءِ آلِهَةً مَا وَرَدُوهَا ۖ

21:99] Had these been gods, they would not have come to it (Hell)

The claim was that in both of the above two verses, the pronoun هَٰؤُلَاءِ is used for idols which are non-rational beings.

I thought that making a thread of this objection would be a source to call people towards the Quran and the hardwork done by our scholars in doing tafaseer of the blessed & profound verses of Quran. I have responded to my friend what I understand of the two verses which have been presented as evidence. For the readers, I am inviting them to open the holy book, read the verses, translations, tafseer & reason of revelation and try to respond to the objection either in negation or in affirmation with proper reasoning. 

Wassalam! 

 

 

Salaam brother, Tell your friend of the following:

According Imam al-'askari (as): Then He azwj Said And He Taught Adam the names, all of them - The names of the Prophets  of Allah azwj and the names of Muhammad (saww) and Ali (عليه السلام) and (Syeda) Fatima (عليه السلام) and Al-Hassan (عليه السلام) and Al-Husayn (عليه السلام) and the goodly from their Progeny (عليه السلام) and good Shias of their and their hardened enemies then presented them - presented Muhammad (saww) and Ali (عليه السلام) and the Imams (عليه السلام) to the Angels – i.e., their resemblances, and they were ‘Anwar’ Lights in the shadows.

And He Said: Tell Me their names if you were truthful – The entirety of you are glorifying and extolling the Holiness and you are neglecting over here the suitability of the ones after you – i.e., so just as you are not recognising the unseen – the one who in your midst (Iblees) – it is appropriate that you will not be recognising the unseen which has yet to come into existence, just as you are not recognising the names of the personalities (عليه السلام) you are seeing.

The Angels said: They said: Glory be to You! There is no knowledge for us except what You Taught us; surely You are the Knowing, the Wise [2:32] - The Knower of everything, the Wise, the Correct in all His Deeds.

Allah the Mighty and Majestic (Said): O Adam! Inform them of their names - The names of the Prophets (عليه السلام) and the Imams (عليه السلام) . Then when he had informed them of their names, they recognised them and the Pact was Taken upon them, and the Covenant, with the believing in them and of preferring them

Allah the Exalted Said during that Did I not Say to you that I Know unseen of the skies and the earth – their secrets - and I know what you are manifesting and what you have been concealing? – and what Iblees believed in from the refusal upon Adam if I were to Command with obeying him, and his destroying him if he was to (allowed to) overcome upon him, and from your beliefs that there would be no one coming after you all except and you would be superior than him. But, Muhammad (saww) and his goodly Progeny are superior than you all, those whom Adam informed you with their names. (Tafseer Imam Hassan Al Askari (عليه السلام). – S 100)