Abstract
In "The children of Israel as a prototype of the Shi'a: notes on some early Imami-Shi'i exegetical tradition," Meir Bar-Asher states that various early Imami-Shi'i Qur'an commentaries, introduce the idea of the Shi'a as being identified with the Biblical Children of Israel (Banu Israel). Qur'anic verses in which the children of Israel are explicity mentioned in traditions attributed mainly to the fifth and sixth Imams Muhammad al-Baqir and Ja'far al-Sadiq, are interpreted as references to Shi'ism, its history and doctines. "Every nice [Qur'anic] expression which in its external [meaning = zahir] addresses the children of Israel, is in its hidden [meaning = batin] addressing me and my household (i.e., the Shi'a)," the Prophet is said to have declared in one such tradition. Bar-Asher analysis these traditions as against the background of other Imami-Shi'i exegetical material referring to the Jews and Judaism.
| Translated title of the contribution | The children of Israel as a prototype of the Shi'a: notes on some early Imami-Shi'i exegetical tradition |
|---|---|
| Original language | Arabic (Israel) |
| Pages (from-to) | pp. 49-61 (Arabic section) |
| Journal | الكرمل al-Karmil: Studies in Arabic language and literature |
| Volume | 18-19 |
| State | Published - 1997 |
IHP publications
- IHP publications
- Qur'an -- Criticism, interpretation, etc
- Twelve tribes of Israel
- Shiites