تطور تاريخي تفسير آيه ميثاق و نو آوري ملاصدرا

Historical Development of the Interpretation of the Qurʹanic Verse al-Mithaq (Pledge) and Mulla Sadraʹs Innovations

Verse 172 of Chapter al- ʹArafm the Qurʹan, known as verse "al-Mithaq or verse "Dharf, has a mysterious content. Traditional interpreters have interpreted this verse based on the external meaning of the traditions on the world of pre-existence. Gnostics and mystics have also accepted this interpretation by adding some gnostic and metaphorical points. Ashʹarite theologians, because of their Zahirite (formalist) approach, have resorted to the surface meaning of the verse and believed in a world that is completely separate from and superior to this world called the world of pre-existence, which they believe is the Lordly abode. Nevertheless, the Mu ʹtazilite and Imamiyyah theologians do not agree with this interpretation because of its disagreement with some rational principles. They believe that the abode of divine pledge is the present world and completely refuted the traditions on pledge in the world of pre-existence. t However, by presenting a new interpretation, Mulla Sadra maintains that the descending of offspring from the human body means observing human beings in the truth of their intellectual fathers. He believes that the process of making a pledge is related to that period. He sees his own theory consistent with the traditions on the world of pre-existence. In general, there are two main approaches in the history of the interpretation of this verse. One of them states that it enjoys a narrative language, while the other maintains that it enjoys a symbolic one. However, both agree that we should have an epistemological interpretation of its language.