The nature of the transformation (maskh) torment in the religious teachings Muhammad Kazem Shaker

Abstract

The Sabbath group had been one of the Jewish groups who had blindly emulated their fathers and ancestors, not strictly observing the divine limitations, therefore failing in the trial of not catching fishes on Saturdays and being tormented with transformation. This torment is specific among the divine torments because of its unusual and unknown nature; therefore bringing up many questions about it. Contemplating Kuran, traditions and the scholars views, it is apparent that the mentioned transformation (maskh) is a physical one, negating the possibility of its being that of the soul and as a parable. Accordingly, based on this study it can be concluded that considering the language of the religion, figurative or allegoric while expressing divine torments, in order to warn the human beings, at least in this case is not acceptable.

Keywords

• keywords: torment
• transformation (maskh)
• physical transformation
• mental transformation
• the sabbath group