Transformation of Vices to Virtues from the Perspective of Shi’ite and Sunni Commentators

Abstract

The negation of virtues and vices is one of immensely important issues which has been focused in many verses and Hadith. In this regard, different Islamic denominations have raised the issue to discuss its aspects and exchange ideas. In some Quranic verses, there is even a mention of “changing vices to virtues”; for example, Surah Al-Forqan Verse 70 introduces “repentance” as a means to save humans from sin, and regards “belief” and “righteous act” as a precondition to accept repentance. The present study which aims to investigate different views of Sunni and Shi’ite commentators regarding the above verse is conducted through descriptive analysis. The results of this research show that the term transformation in this context basically means “change”; however, there are some disagreements among commentators on how vices would change to virtues. Some interpreters hold that vice act would be changed to virtuous act, some others believe that the idea behind vice and virtue is their reward and punishment, and others interpret it as the transformation of vice consequences to virtue consequences.

Keywords

• transformation
• negation of virtues
• negation of vices
• vice
• virtue