Studying Shīʿa Hadith and History
Introduction The first two parts of this series were devoted to summarizing the nature of the 'Seven Aḥruf' problem and tracing the evolution of the different interpretations that were advanced historically to deal with it[1]. In this part I lay out what I believe to be the solution, beginning by unveiling the true meaning of … Continue reading Tahrif or Not? A Shi’i Perspective on the Seven Ahruf Reports (Pt. III)
What Dialects? It is al-Ṭabarī (d. 310) who comes closest to deciphering the meaning of ‘the Qur’an was sent down per Seven Aḥruf’ when he interprets this prophetic statement as referring to seven different wordings being revealed for a common point in the Qur’an without changing the basic meaning. Al-Ṭabarī asserts that these alternative wordings … Continue reading Tahrif or Not? A Shi’i Perspective on the Seven Ahruf Reports (Pt. II)
Introduction Did the companions all recite the Qur’an in the same way? If not, did this variation go back to the prophet (he taught it differently to different companions) and ultimately the Divine Author, or was it a result of the natural human condition (they tried their utmost to remain faithful to the original prophetic … Continue reading Tahrif or Not? A Shi’i Perspective on the Seven Ahruf Reports (Pt. I)
Introduction[1] I am often asked the question: How could the Rijālī authors like Ṭūsī and Najāshī pronounce verdicts on men who came much earlier than them – separated as they are by a chasm of a century or two? The answer lies in how we can speak of men who lived in the past in … Continue reading How Rijālīs Know: The Case of al-Ḥasan b. ʿAlī b. Faḍḍāl
Introduction Where do we draw the line as far as the Taqiyya that the Imams had historically engaged in is concerned? The standard view of the Madhhab is that the Imams would not purposely mislead the overwhelming majority of their own Ashab through statements given in Taqiyya. My own argument in support of the standard … Continue reading Does the Imam Misguide His Companions? (A Response)
Shiitic Studies 