Alhassanain(p) Network for Heritage and Islamic Thought

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Al-Mizan;

An Exegesis of the Qur'an, vol 7

From Ch. 3 [Surah Ale-Imran], vrs. 121-200 to Ch. 4 [Surah An-Nisaa], Verses 7-10

This volume opens with the exposition of the 121st verse of the `Surah Ale 'Imran, which continues till the verse 200 which is the end of the Surah. Then begins the exposition of the Surat al-Nisa' (Women) and 10 verses are explained in this volume. Translated by Allamah Sayyid Sa'eed Akhtar Rizvi.

Author(s): Allamah Sayyid Muhammad Husayn at-Tabataba'i

Translator(s): Allamah Sayyid Sa'eed Akhtar Rizvi

Publisher(s): World Organization for Islamic Services [W.O.F.I.S.]

www.alhassanain.org/english

English translation

First edition 1990/ 1410

Translated from the Arabic

al-Mīzān fi tafsīri ’1-Qur’ān,

Beirut, 1393/1973 (3rd ed.)

All rights reserved

Published by

World Organization for Islamic Services, P. O. Box No.11365-1545,

Tehran - IRAN

Printed by Offset Press Inc. Tehran Iran

Features of Volume 7:

This volume opens with the exposition of the 121st verse of the `Surah Ale 'Imran, which continues till the verse 200 which is the end of the Surah. Then begins the exposition of the Surat al-Nisa' (Women) and 10 verses are explained in this volume.

Some of the important subjects discussed in this volume are as follows: the teaching of the Qur'an and their role in the reconciliation of knowledge and action; the trial or test and its real meaning; the remission of sins and forgiveness in the Qur'an; the problem of tawakkul (resignation to the Divine Will); with reference to the verse 172 of the Surah Al 'Imran and its preceding and following verses dealing with the Battle of Uhud, a list of the names of the 77 martyrs of Uhud is also given; a philosophical discussion based on a comparative study of the Qur'an and the Old Testament regarding the rights of women; and the Qur'anic view of social relations in Islam - in fifteen sections. This is the most important discussion of this volume and it may be considered to be one of the profoundest and the most original of the discourses of al-Mizan, which brings to light some very sensitive and subtle points about Islamic sociology in the light of the relevant verses of the Surah al-Nisa' (Women) pertaining to the age of human beings, the emergence of the first man, the process of creation and evolution and other related matters.

Afterwards, there is a discussion about marriage from a scientific point of view, divided into three sections. The third section is devoted to the issue of polygamy in Islam with reference to the question of the number of the wives of the Prophet (s.a.w.a.). The philosophical implications of these issues are discussed thoroughly.

In the Name of Allāh,

The All-compassionate, The All-merciful

Praise belongs to Allāh, the Lord of all being;

the All-compassionate, the All-merciful;

the Master of the Day of Judgement;

Thee only we serve, and to Thee alone we pray

for succour:

Guide us in the straight path;

the path of those whom Thou hast blessed,

not of those against whom Thou art wrathful,

nor of those who are astray.

* * * * *

O’ Allāh! send your blessings to the head of

your messengers and the last of

your prophets,

Muhammad and his pure and cleansed progeny.

Also send your blessings to all your

prophets and envoys.

Notice:

This version is published on behalf of www.alhassanain.org/english

The composing errors are not corrected.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TRANSLITERATION 12

FOREWORD [IN ARABIC] 13

FOREWORD 15

Volume 7: Surah Ale-Imran, Verses 121-129 17

COMMENTARY 17

TRADITIONS 23

Volume 7: Surah Ale-Imran, Verses 130-138 30

COMMENTARY 30

QUR’ĀNIC TEACHING: HOW IT JOINS KNOWLEDGE WITH PRACTICE 31

TRADITIONS 35

Volume 7: Surah Ale-Imran, Verses 139-148 39

COMMENTARY 40

TEST AND ITS REALITY 44

Volume 7: Surah Ale-Imran, Verses 149-155 54

COMMENTARY 55

PARDON AND FORGIVENESS IN THE QUR’ĀN 64

Volume 7: Ale-Imran, Verses 156-164 67

COMMENTARY 68

Volume 7: Surah Ale-Imran, Verses 165-171 72

COMMENTARY 72

Volume 7: Surah Ale-Imran, Verses 172-175 77

COMMENTARY 77

TRUST IN ALLAH 79

TRADITIONS 79

THE MARTYRS OF UHUD 88

Volume 7: Surah Ale-Imran, Verses 176-180 91

COMMENTARY 91

It is evident from this verse that: - 93

TRADITIONS 95

Volume 7: Surah Ale-Imran, Verses 181-189 96

COMMENTARY 97

TRADITIONS 99

Volume 7: Surah Ale-Imran, Verses 190-199 101

COMMENTARY 102

A COMPARISON BETWEEN THE QUR’ĀN AND THE BIBLE REGARDING TREATMENT OF WOMEN 105

TRADITIONS 105

Volume 7: Surah Ale-Imran, Verse 200 107

COMMENTARY 107

A DISCOURSE ON BELIEVERS’ MUTUAL CONNECTION IN ISLAMIC SOCIETY 107

1. Man and Society 107

2. Man and the Growth of his Society 108

3. Islam and the Attention it gives to Society 109

4. Relationship of Individual and Society in the Eyes of Islam 110

5. Is Islamic social System capable of Implementation and Continuation? 113

6. What is the Basis of Islamic Society? How it lives on? 121

7. Two Logics: Logic of Understanding and Logic of Sensuousness 126

8. What is the Meaning of seeking Reward from Allāh, and turning away from others? Someone might ask: 128

9. What is the Meaning of Freedom according to Islam? 129

10. What is the Way to Change and Perfection in Islamic Society? 130

11. Is Islamic Sharī‘ah competent to bring happiness in the modern Life? 133

12. Who is entitled to rule over the Islamic Society? What Characteristics he should have? 134

13. The Boundary of Islamic State is Ideology and Belief, not physical Landmarks, nor Man-made Borders 137

14. Islam cares for social Order in all its Aspects 138

15. The true Religion will ultimately prevail over the world 143

TRADITIONS 145

Volume 7: Surah An-Nisaa, Verse 1 147

COMMENTARY 147

HOW OLD THE HUMAN SPECIES IS; THE FIRST MAN 152

THE PRESENT HUMAN RACE BEGINS WITH ADAM AND HIS WIFE 153

MANKIND IS AN INDEPENDENT SPECIES, NOT EVOLVED FROM ANY OTHER SPECIES 156

HOW MAN’S SECOND GENERATION PROCREATED 157

TRADITIONS 158

Volume 7: Surah An-Nisaa, Verses 2-6 162

GENERAL COMMENT 162

THE ERA OF IGNORANCE 163

ISLAM ARRIVES ON THE SCENE 166

COMMENTARY 175

ALL THE RICHES BELONG TO THE WHOLE MANKIND 181

TRADITIONS 185

AN ACADEMIC ESSAY IN THREE CHAPTERS 189

1. Marriage is one of the Goals of Nature 189

2. Domination of Males over Females 191

3. Polygamy 192

Objections against Polygamy: 193

ANOTHER RELATED ACADEMIC DISCOURSE ON MANY MARRIAGES OF THE PROPHET 202

Volume 7: Surah An-Nisaa, Verses 7-10 206

COMMENTARY 206

THE DEED RETURNS TO ITS DOER 209

TRADITIONS 211

NOTES 214

DEALT WITH IN THIS VOLUME 219

APPENDIX “A” 223

APPENDIX “B” 225

TRANSLITERATION

FOREWORD [IN ARABIC]

FOREWORD

1. al-‘Allāmah as-Sayyid Muhammad Husayn at-Tabātabā’ī (1321/1904 - 1402/1981) - may Allāh have mercy upon him - was a famous scholar, thinker and the most celebrated contemporary Islamic philosopher. We have introduced him briefly in the first volume of the English translation of al-Mīzān.

2. al-‘Allāmah at-Tabātabā’ī is well-known for a number of his works of which the most important is his great exegesis al-Mīzān fī tafsīri ’l-Qur’ān which is rightly counted as the fundamental pillar of scholarly work which the ‘Allāmah has achieved in the Islamic world.

3. We felt the necessity of publishing an exegesis of the Holy Qur’ān in English. After a thorough consultation, we came to choose al-Mīzān because.we found that it contained in itself, to a considerable extent, the points which should necessarily be expounded in a perfect exegesis of the Holy Qur’ān and the points which appeal to the mind of the contemporary Muslim reader. Therefore, we proposed to al-Ustādh al-‘Allāmah as-Sayyid Sa‘īd Akhtar ar-Radawī to undertake this task because we were familiar with his intellectual ability to understand the Arabic text of al-Mīzān and his literary capability in expression and translation. So we relied on him for this work and consider him responsible for the English translation as al-‘Allāmah at-Tabātabā’ī was responsible for the Arabic text of al-Mīzān and its discussions.

4. We have now undertaken the publication of the seventh volume of the English translation of al-Mīzān. This volume corresponds with the first half of the third volume of the Arabic text. With the help of Allāh, the Exalted, we hope to provide the complete translation and publication of this voluminous work.

In the first volume, the reader will find two more appendixes included apart from the two which are to appear in all volumes of the English translation of al-Mīzān: One for the authors and the other for the books cited throughout this work.

* * * * *

We implore upon Allāh to effect our work purely for His pleasure, and to help us to complete this work which we have started. May Allāh guide us in this step which we have taken and in the future steps, for He is the best Master and the best Helper.

WORLD ORGANIZATION FOR ISLAMIC SERVICES

(Board of Writing, Translation and Publication)

18/12/1410

11/7/1990

Tehran IRAN.

al-Mīzān

Volume Seven

From Ch. 3 [Surah Ale-Imran], vrs. 121-200 to Ch. 4 [Surah An-Nisaa], Verses 7-10