Analysis of the Intertextual Relationship between the Verse ʼIṭāʽat with Verses Imāmah, Wilāyah and Virtues of Ahl al-Bayt (AS)

Abstract

The verse of ‘ulul’amr (Nisā’: 59), is one of the most important reasons for the legitimacy of obedience in the fields of religious and political authority in the Qur’an, which is devoted to the issue of the social verse, namely the leadership of the Islamic community and the absolute obedience of all Muslims to the leader. Both Sunni and Shiite historians and scholars have discussed on this verse in various ways. One aspect that has not been addressed is the intertextual communication of the verse of obedience (ʼiṭāʽat) to verses of Imamate (imāmah), Guardianship (wilāyah), and virtues of Ahlul Bayt (AS). This paper seeks to analyze the intertextual relationship between the verse of obedience and major verses of the Imamate, guardianship, and virtues of Ahlul Bayt (AS), applying the descriptive-analytical method and regarding to the rules of intertextual relations between the abovementioned verses. Analyzing and evaluating the intertextual relations of the verse of obedience to the other above mentioned verses, it proves that the concept and meaning of this verse implying the Imamate and infallibility of ‘ulul’amr (AS), are in hidden or apparent noticed in other verses of Imamate, Guardianship, and virtues of Ahlul Bayt (AS). According to the rules of intertextual relations, these relations are either exemplified, precondition for another verse, cause and effect, correlative, or other available connections, all indicate the importance of the verse of obedience among the verses of Imamate, guardianship and virtues of Ahlul Bayt (AS).

Keywords

• the verse ʼiṭāʽat
• ahlul bayt (as)
• ineffability
• the verses imāmah
• wilāyah and the virtues of ahl al-bayt (as)
• intertextual relations