Comparative Studies of Quran

Comparative Studies of Quran

A comparative study of the meaning and signification of Bayyinat in the Holy Quran based on the views of Shiite and Sunni commentators

Document Type : Original

Authors
Ensiyeh Sadat Hashemi 1
Reyhaneh Hashemi 2
1 Assistant Professor, Department of Arabic Language and Literature, Faculty of Literature, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
2 Assistant Professor, Department of Shia Studies, Seyyed Al-Shahada Institute of Higher Education, Qom.
Abstract
The word ‘Bayyenāt’(بیّنات) is one of the key words of the Holy Qur’an which has been repeated 71 times in the Holy Qur’an considering its other derivatives. The key use and repetition of this word in the Holy Qur'an requires a close examination of its meaning and examples in the referenced verses. Since Bayyenāt has been used in different contexts, the purpose of this study is to discover the distinctions between the causes of which the word Bayyenāt have been use in each verse, according to its Quranic conceptual meaning. For this purpose, first the lexical meaning of Bayyenāt was investigated by examining several dictionaries, then the verses that contain this word were extracted, and finally the examples of Bayyenāt were examined through a comparative analysis of different interpretations. The results of the research show that Bayyenāt, which literal meaning is ‘clear and enlightening reasons’, has been used in the Holy Qur'an in both material and spiritual instances. For the materialistic examples of using Bayyenāt, we can mention the miracles of the prophets and the remnants of the past. The spiritual examples of Bayyenāt also include the Holy books, especially the Qur'an, divine knowledge and insight, and rational arguments. A comparative analysis of the Shiite and Sunni commentators shows that the commentators agree on the examples related to the prophets, their miracles, and arguments, as well as the example of the Holy Qur'an. Differences of opinion can be seen only in the verses that refer to the concealment of evidence, and only the Shia commentators, have stated Imam Ali’s leadership as an example of concealed evidence based on Hadith.
Keywords
Bayyenāt
Comparative Study
Case Study
Semantics

Subjects

  1. Holy Quran, translated by Mohammad Mahdi Foladun
    1. Abulfotuh Razi, Hossein bin Ali (1408 AH): "Rauz al-Jinnan wa Rouh al-Jinnan fi Tafsir al-Qur'an", Mashhad: Astan Quds Razavi Islamic Research Foundation.
    2. Alousi, Seyyed Mahmud (1415 AH): "Ruh al-Ma'ani fi Tafsir al-Qur'an al-Azeem", Beirut: Dar al-Kotob Al-Ilamiya, first edition.
    3. Amin, Seyida Nusrat (1361): "Makhzan al-Irfan fi Tafsir al-Qur'an", Tehran: Muslim Women's Movement.
    4. Andalusi, Abuhayyan (1420 AH): "Al-Bahr al-Muhit fi al-Tafsir", Beirut: Dar al-Fikr.
    5. Bahrani, Sayyed Hashem (1416 AH): "Al-Burhan fi Tafsir al-Qur'an", Tehran: Ba'ath Foundation, first edition.
    6. Balkhi, Muqatil bin Suleiman (1423 AH): "Tafsir Muqatil bin Suleiman", Beirut: Dar Ihya Al-Trath al-Arabi, first edition.
    7. Beidawi, Abdullah bin Umar (1418 AH): "Anwar al-Tanzil wa Asrar al-Ta’wil", Beirut: Dar Ihya Al-Tarath al-Arabi, first edition.
    8. Dameghqi, Ibn Kathir (1419 AH): "Tafsir al-Qur'an al-Azeem", Beirut: Dar al-Kotob al-Ilamiya, first edition.
    9. Dashti, Mohammad (1386): "Translation of Nahj al-Balagheh", Mashhad: Sonboleh, first edition.
    10. Faiz Kashani, Mulla Mohsen (1418 AH): "al-Asfa fi Tafsir al-Qur'an", Qom: Publishing Center of the Islamic Propaganda Office, first edition.
    11. Fakhr al-Din Razi, Abu Abdullah (1420 A.H.): "Mafatih al-Ghaib", Beirut: Dar Ihya al-Torath al-Arabi, third edition.
    12. Fayoumi, Ahmad bin Muhammad (1414 AH): "al-Miasbah al-Munir Fi Gharib al-Sharh al-Kabeer Lil-Rafa'i", Qom: Dar al-Hijrah Institute, second edition.
    13. Firouzabadi, Muhammad bin Yaqub (1415 A.H.): "Al-Qamoos Al-Muhit", Beirut: Dar Al-Kitab Al-Alamiya, first edition.
    14. Ghaffari, Mehdi (1367): "Bayyinah", the great Islamic encyclopedia, vol. 13, 5412-5413.
    15. Gonabadi, Sultan Muhammad (1408 AH): "Tafsir Bayan al-Sa’adah fi Maqamat al-Ibadah", Beirut: al-Elmi Foundation for Press, second edition.
    16. Haghi Brosavi, Ismail (n.d): "Tafsir Ruh al-Bayan", Beirut, Dar al-Fakr.
    17. Hawizi's Arousi, Abd Ali bin Jum’a (1415 AH): "Tafsir Noor al-Thaqalain ", Qom: Ismailian Publications, 4th edition.
    18. Ibn Manzoor, Muhammad bin Makram (1414 AH): "Languages of the Arabs", Beirut: Dar Sadir, third edition.
    19. Johari, Ismail bin Hammad (1376): "al-Sahhah", Beirut: Dar-al-Elam Lal-Malayin, first edition.
    20. Kashani, Mulla Fathullah (1336): "Tafsir Manhaj al-Sadiqin fi Ilzam al-Makhalifiin", Tehran: Mohammad Hasan Elmi bookstore.
    21. Maghali, Isa (2018): "Bayyina and Bayyinat, Its Scope and Functions in the Holy Qur'an", Master's Thesis, Shahid Madani University of Azerbaijan, Faculty of Theology.
    22. Makarem Shirazi, Naser (1374): "Tafsir Nemooneh", Tehran: Dar Al-Kitab al-Islamiya, first edition.
    23. Modaresi, Seyyed Mohammad Taqi (1419 AH): "Min Hoda Al-Qur'an", Tehran: Dar Mohibi al-Husain, first edition.
    24. Mustafavi, Hassan (1430 AH): "Al-Tahghigh fi Kalimat Al-Qur’an", Beirut: Dar Al-Kotob al-Ilamiya.
    25. Ragheb Esfahani, Hossein bin Muhammad (1412 AH): "Mofradat Alfaz al-Quran", Beirut: Dar al-Elm, first edition.
    26. Samarkandi, Nasr bin Muhammad (n.d): "Bahr al-Uloom", n.p.
    27. Shobar, Seyyed Abdullah (1412 AH): "Tafsir al-Qur'an al-Karim", Beirut: Dar al-Balaghah for printing and publishing, first edition.
    28. Siyuti, Jalal al-Din, Muhyi, Jalal al-Din (1416 AH): “Tafsir al-Jalalayn”, Beirut: Al-Nour Publications Institute, first edition.
    29. Tabari, Muhammad bin Jarir (1412 AH): "Jami’ al-Bayan fi Tafsir al-Qur'an", Beirut: Dar al-Ma’rifa, first edition.
    30. Tabarsi, Fazl bin Hasan (1372): "Majma’ al-Bayan fi Tafsir al-Qur'an", Tehran: Nasser Khosro Publications, third edition.
    31. Tabarsi, Fazl bin Hasan (1377): "Tafsir Jawamie al-Jame', Tehran: University of Tehran Publications and Management of Qom Seminary, first edition.
    32. Tabatabaei, Muhammad Hossein (1417 AH): "Al-Mizan fi Tafsir al-Qur'an" Qom: Islamic Publications Office of the Qom Seminary Society, fifth edition.
    33. The Holy Qur'an, translated by Mohammad Mehdi Fouladvand.
    34. Tousi, Muhammad bin Hassan (n.d): "Al-Tibyan fi Tafsir al-Qur'an", Beirut: Dar Ihya al-Torath al-Arabi.
    35. Zamakhshari, Mahmud (1407 AH): "Al-Kashaf an Haghaegh Ghawamaz al-Tanzil", Beirut: Dar al-Kotob al-Arabi, third edition.

  • Receive Date 02 February 2022
  • Revise Date 21 April 2023
  • Accept Date 30 April 2023
  • Publish Date 20 February 2023