Imamate in the Qur'an (A Critique and Examination of the "Imamate" Entry in Oliver Leaman's Qur'anic Encyclopedia)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Assistant Professor of the Qur'an Sciences and Education University, Mashhad, Iran.

2 M. A student in interpretation of the Holy Qur'an, Faculty of Qur'anic Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.

3 University of Mazandaran

Abstract

One of the special encyclopedias of the Qur'an written by Westerners in the present era is the encyclopedia of the Qur'an by Mr. Oliver Leaman. Considering the place of encyclopedias and their importance in the reference of researchers and non-Muslim and even Muslim audiences, it is necessary to review them, especially from the Shiite point of view. The current study deals with the introduction and critique of the entry "Imamate" from the Qur'an encyclopedia, written by Mrs. Arzina R. Lalani and edited by Mr. Oliver Leaman. This entry in that encyclopedia works on the issue of imamate in the meaning of imam, its application in the Holy Quran and the opinions of different Islamic sects. The author starts the main discussion by referring to the verse of the appointment of Ibrahim as an imam and follows up the discussion by providing the concepts and issues discussed in the Qur'an and then briefly presents the views of Islamic schools of thought. The present study is looking for an answer to the question of what are the strengths and weaknesses of this entry, based on the Shia principles and perspective, using a descriptive-analytical method. The findings of the study suggest that despite the strengths of this article, many shortcomings and weaknesses can be seen, which are: Lack of proper and accurate explanation of the term "imam and imamate", lack of logical course and proper order, biased view on the issue of imamate, lack of respect for the Shia view and its reliable sources, lack of proper explanation of Imam's infallibility.

Keywords

References

  1. * The Holy Quran.

    1. Afzali, M. A. (1399 AP). Examining the entry of "Exaggeration" in the Koran encyclopedia of Oliver Leaman. Orientalist Qur'an Studies, 29, pp. 272-292. [In Persian]
    2. Alavi Mehr, H., & Wajdi, F. (1396 AP). A review of "intercession" articles in Oliver Leaman's Qur'an encyclopedia, Orientalist Qur'an Studies, 23, pp. 122-103. [In Persian]
    3. Asghalani, I. H. (1404 AH). Tahdeeb al-Tahdeeb (Vol. 7). Beirut: Dar al-Fekr. [In Arabic]
    4. Bahrani, I. (1406 AH). Qawa'id al-Maram fi Ilm al-kalam (2nd). Qom: Library of Ayatollah al-Marashi al-Najafi. [In Arabic]
    5. Basri Zahri, M. (1968). Tabaqat Al-Kubra (Vol. 3, Abbas, E, Ed.). Beirut: Dar Sader.
    6. Center for Quranic Culture and Sciences. (1382 AP). Encyclopedia of the Holy Qur'an (Vol. 4). Qom: Bostan Kitab. [In Persian]
    7. Dameshqi, I. K. (n.d.). Al-Sirah Al-Nabawieh (Vol. 4). Beirut: Al-Ma'arif Library.
    8. Dhahabi, Sh. (1413 AH). Seir Alam al-Nubala (Vol. 14). Beirut: Al-Rasalah. [In Arabic]
    9. Fakhr Razi, M. (1425 AH). Al-Tafsir al-Kabir (Vol. 1). Beirut: Dar al-Kotob al-Ilmiyah. [In Arabic]
    10. Hakim Neishaburi, M. (1411 AH). Al-Mustadrak (Vol. 3, Abdul Qadir Atta, M, Ed.). Beirut: Dar al-Kotob al-Ilmiyah. [In Arabic]
    11. Hosseini, Q. (1387 AP). Shia studies and English-speaking Shia scholars (1950 to 2006) (under the supervision of Dr. Mohsen Alviri and Dr. Abbas Ahmadvand). Qom: Shia Studies Publications. [In Persian]
    12. Ibn Hajar Heythami, A. (1417 AH). Al-Sawaiq al-Muhriqa (Vol. 1, Kharat, K. M, Ed.). Beirut: Al-Rasalah Institute. [In Arabic]
    13. Ibn Jozi, A. (1409 AH). Manaqib Umar bin Khattab. Beirut: Dar Sader. [In Arabic]
    14. Koleyni, M. (1407 AH). Al-Kafi (Vol. 1, Ghafari, A. A., & Akhundi, M, Ed., 4th). Tehran: Dar al-Kotob al-Islamiyah. [In Arabic]
    15. Mousavi Bojnourdi, S. M. K. (1367 AP). The Great Islamic Encyclopedia (Vol. 10). Tehran: The Center of the Great Islamic Encyclopaedia. [In Persian]
    16. Qari, M. (1422 AH). Marqaat Al-Mafatih Sharh Mishkat al-Masabih (Vol. 11, Eitani, J, Ed.). Beirut: Dar al-Kotob al-Ilmiyah. [In Arabic]
    17. Qushairi Neishaburi, M. (n.d.). Sahih Muslim (Vol. 4). Beirut: Dar Ihya al-Toras al-Arabi.
    18. Ragheb Esfahani, H. (1412 AH). Mufradat. Beirut: Dar Ilm. [In Arabic]
    19. Rezaei Esfahani, M. A et al. (1383 AP). Al-Qur'an al-Karim (the first group translation of the Holy Qur'an). Qom: Dar al-Zhikr. [In Persian]
    20. Rezaei Esfahani, M. A., & Alavi, H. (1397 AP). Examining the miracles of the Quran in the Koran encyclopedia of Oliver Leaman, Orientalist Quran Studies, 13(24), pp. 29-48. [In Persian]
    21. Rezaei Esfahani, M. A., & Etesami, S. M. (1388 AP). Introduction and review of Oliver Leaman's Koran encyclopedia, Journal of Orientalists' Qur'an studies, 4(7), pp. 72-29. [In Persian]
    22. Shahrestani, M. (1990). Al-Milal va Al-Nahl (Vol. 1). Beirut: Dar al-Marafa.
    23. Soyouti, A. (1404 AH). Al-Dur al-Manthour (Vol. 3). Qom: Ayatollah Marashi Najafi Library. [In Arabic]
    24. Tabarsi, F. (1372 AP). Majma' al-Bayan Fi Tafsir al-Qur'an (Vol. 1). Tehran: Nasser Khosro. [In Persian]
    25. Tabatabaei, S. M. H. (1390 AH). Al-Mizan fi Tafsir al-Qur'an (Vol. 1). Beirut: Al-A'alami. [In Arabic]
    26. Teflisi, H. (1371 AP). Faces of the Qur'an. Tehran: University of Tehran. [In Persian]
    27. Tusi, M. (1406 AH). Al-Iqtisad fima Yata'alaq be al-Itiqad (2nd ed.). Beirut: Dar al-Azwa'. [In Arabic]

     

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics