By Dr. Muwahib Saleh Mahdi – College of Islamic Sciences – University of Karbala
Introduction
Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and peace and blessings be upon Muhammad, the Seal of the Prophets and Messengers, and upon his pure and virtuous family, his chosen companions, and those who follow them with guidance until the Day of Judgment.
To proceed:
Knowledge of the Book of Allah and understanding its verses is the ultimate goal for every Muslim, and the noblest aim for anyone eager to go beyond its letters and into the treasures hidden within. The efforts of the commentators – may Allah bless their faces – have converged to reveal its meanings, and their aspirations raced to clarify its objectives and goals, with the aim of making its message accessible to the thinkers and simplifying its expression for the readers. They lived their lives with the Qur’an and its guidance, dedicating their time to its miraculous revelations, refining their minds, and producing rich intellectual results and abundant interpretive studies.
The comparative study was meant to focus on these results through examination, analysis, and scrutiny to preserve the beneficial and useful aspects, while dismissing the faulty and distant elements, ultimately preserving and enhancing this intellectual heritage.
The truth is that comparative studies emerged in various fields of scientific research at an early stage. However, this form of study was delayed in the field of Qur’anic exegesis, especially in terms of theoretical foundations; the seeds of comparative exegesis were planted after the middle of the last century.
Due to the importance of comparative exegesis, it has captured the attention of students who study the opinions of the interpreters of both sects. My contribution to this project is a comparative look at some interpretations from both sects regarding the eleventh verse of Surah Al-Qiyama, as a selected example for applied study.
The Issue
In this brief research, we aimed to understand the meaning of the eleventh verse of Surah Al-Qiyama (“Kalla La Wazar”) and the views of the commentators from both sects regarding it, as a training in reviewing opinions and collecting them, identifying areas of agreement or differences, if any.
Objectives of the Research:
- To understand the views of the interpreters from both sects on the components of the eleventh verse of Surah Al-Qiyama.
- The necessity of the research: The Qur’an is a clear explanation of everything, and its components contain profound meanings. Some verses about the Day of Judgment require clarification of their connotations and implications through language and sacred narrations.
The Virtue of Surah Al-Qiyama
Imam Abu Ja’far (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever continuously reads Surah Al-Qiyama and acts upon its teachings, Allah, the Almighty, will raise him from his grave in the most beautiful form and will greet him and smile in his face until he crosses the bridge and the scales.”
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever recites this Surah will be witnessed by me and Jibril (Gabriel) on the Day of Judgment, testifying that he believed in the Day of Resurrection, and he will emerge from his grave with a shining face, his light leading him, and continuously reading it brings sustenance and protection, and it makes people fond of him.”
Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) said: “Reciting it brings humility and chastity. Whoever recites it will not fear any ruler, and he will be protected during the night if he reads it and during the day, with Allah’s permission.”
Opinions of Sunni Commentators
Kalla La Wazar
Allah says: “Kalla La Wazar to your Lord that Day is the final place of rest.” Ibn Mas’ud, Ibn Abbas, Sa’id ibn Jubayr, and several others from the early generations of Muslims said: “It means there is no escape.”
This is similar to His saying: “You have no refuge that Day, and no one can deny.” That is, you will have no place to hide, just as here it says “no refuge,” meaning there is no place to seek protection.
Shiite Interpretation
One of the narrations is from Ibn Zayd, who said in reference to the verse “Kalla La Wazar”: “There is no place to hide from that matter, there is no escape from it.”
The verse is a deterrent against seeking refuge. “Wazar” refers to a refuge, like a mountain, fortress, or anything else that serves as a shelter.
Combining the Views of Both Sects
From the various interpretations provided by both Sunni and Shiite commentators, it becomes evident that the eleventh verse is an area of agreement between both schools of thought. It essentially refers to understanding the strange term “La Wazar,” which refers to a place of refuge or shelter, such as a high mountain or any place one seeks protection after fleeing.
Conclusion
The goal of writing this brief research was to follow our teacher’s recommendation in conducting scholarly investigations, as a training in learning how to examine areas of agreement and disagreement between the interpretations of the two sects in the Qur’an. We were particularly drawn to the word “La Wazar” in Surah Al-Qiyama, which might be obscure to its listeners. We aimed to shed light on this word and reflect on it by reviewing the books of exegesis from both sects. We have concluded that the majority of Qur’anic verses are areas of agreement between the two sects, with only a few minor exceptions. We pray that Allah brings the Muslims together through His verses and unites their ranks. And Allah is the Guardian of success.
