An Analysis of Shiite and Sunni Views regarding “Those Who Have been Given Knowledge” in the Chapter of al-Ankabut

Abstract

In the exegesis of verse 49 of the chapter of al-Ankabut, “Indeed, it is [present as] manifest signs in the breasts of those who have been given knowledge…,” there are ambiguities regarding the phrases “it is [present as] manifest signs” and “those who have been given knowledge” and considering who or what the pronoun it/he refers to, the meaning of “manifest signs” and, more importantly, the designation of the referent of “those who have been given knowledge” would change. This study delves into the exegetic views of the Sunnis and Shiites in the first five Hegira centuries using a descriptive-analytic method. The views of the Sunnis and Shiites regarding the referent of the phrase “those who have been given knowledge” are as follows: the followers of the Divine Scriptures (i.e. Christians, Jews, Sabians, and Magi) and their scholars, followers of the Divine Scriptures who have become Muslims, believers, scholars, the Prophet of Islam (peace be upon him and his household) and the Infallible Imams. Among these, the Imams have identified only themselves as the referents of the verse. In critiquing the views, firstly, in determining the reference of the pronoun “huwa” (he/it) between the Prophet and the Quran, it was clear that the pronoun refers to the Quran and, as a result, some of the aforementioned instances lose the qualification of being a referent for the phrase “those who have been given knowledge” and the specificity of this phrase to the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his household) and the Infallible Imams it becomes clear after explaining the meaning of the phrase “manifest signs” and this has been indicated in some Shiite exegetic narrations.

Keywords

• “those who have been given knowledge”
• holy prophet (peace be upon him and his household)
• shiites and sunnis
• ahlulbayt
• ahl al-sunnah