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Examining the Authority of the People of the Book from the Perspectives of al-Dhahabī and Maʿrifat
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Mohammad Taqi Deyari Bidgoli   , Reza Nasiri1 |
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Abstract: (36 Views) |
| Referring to the People of the Book (Ahl al-Kitāb) has led to serious consequences, such as the infiltration of fabricated reports and Isrāʾīliyyāt into the fields of Islamic history, hadith, and exegesis. Proponents of such reference cite certain Qur'anic verses, prophetic traditions, and the practices of some Companions and new converts from among the People of the Book to justify the legitimacy of this approach. This article conducts a comparative analysis of the views of two exegetes, al-Dhahabī and Maʿrifat, regarding the permissibility of consulting the People of the Book. The findings indicate that the two scholars hold diverging perspectives. Al-Dhahabī justifies the Companions' recourse to the People of the Book, asserting that relevant verses and narratives permit and validate such reference. He further considers the actual practice of the Companions as a basis for its legitimacy. In contrast, Maʿrifat critically evaluates the supposed justifications and interprets the relevant verses and narrations as figurative or hyperbolic. He views the verses as metaphorical—based on the expression "I mean you, but address the neighbor"—and considers the narratives to exaggerate disgrace. According to Maʿrifat, this was not a general practice of the Companions but rather a behavior adopted by a few who lacked adequate scholarly grounding, a claim he supports with historical evidence. |
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| Keywords: Moḥammad Ḥusayn al-Dhahabī, Moḥammad Hādī Maʿrifat, People of the Book, Isrāʾīliyyāt, Practice of the Companions, Banī Isrāʾīl. |
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Full-Text [PDF 335 kb]
(19 Downloads)
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Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
Special
Received: 2025/05/18 | Accepted: 2025/03/17 | Published: 2025/03/17
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