Stylistics Studies of the Holy Quran

Stylistics Studies of the Holy Quran

The symbolic meaning of the composition of the "Asāṭīr al-Awwalīn (stories of the ancients)" in the verses of the Qur'an; Critical analysis of commentators' views and a new look at the issue

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Kaus Rouhi Brandagh 1
Ahmad Amin Yousefi 2
1 Associate Professor, Department of Quranic and Hadith Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University , Tehran, Iran
2 PhD student, Department of Quranic and Hadith Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
1022034/sshq.2023.369593.1232
Abstract
The composition "Asāṭīr al-Awwalīn" is repeated 9 times in Qur'an (6:25, 8:31, 16:24, 23:83, 25:5, 27:68, 46:17, 68:15, 83:13). In 23, 27 and 46 it points to superstition and doctrine of the resurrection. In 5 verses it is understood in 3 meanings: 1- the (invalid) words and writings by the former (generations), 2- mythical stories, and 3- superstition and myth. In the remaining case, verse 68, most of the commentators only express the literal meaning. The above three meanings are based on narrations. Based on those, this phrase is an accusation of denying divine revelation, in opposition to the Qur'an and response to the Tahaddi. But Qur'anic verses about the ancients are not similar to the stories of Rostam and Esfandiar. A critical analysis shows that the part of the narration which introduces it as the descent affair of these verses is probably not part of the text and is the narrator's interpretation because it is equal to the simplicity of challenge. This allegation is against Qur'anic quotes on this subject from associators. Although it is claimed that the narrations cited refer to all the cases of the "Asāṭīr al-Awwalīn", it conflicts with some verses and only the following verses have been used that the meaning has been ambiguous. This paper shows evidence that it refers to the promise of resurrection, exodus, and publication in the writings of the ancients, including the books of Jews and Christians and other divine religions, the Avesta, and the writings of the Copts, Indians, Greeks, etc.
Keywords
Asāṭīr al-Awwalīn (stories of the ancients)
Qur'anic stories
Place of return
Nadr-ibn-Hareth
Holy Quran
Ibn Jawzi, Abdul Rahman Ibn Ali (1422 AH): "Zad al-masir fi Ilm al-tafsir", Beirut: Dar Al-Kitab Al-Arabi.
Ibn ‘Āshūr, Muhammad Tāhir (1420 AH): "Tafsir Al-Tahrīr wal-Tanwīr known as Tafsir Ibn Ashour", Beirut: Institute of Arab History.
Ibn Fāris, Ahmad (1404 AH): "Maqāyīs al-Lugha", Qom: Maktabat 'A'lām al-Islāmī.
Ibn Manzūr, Muhammad ibn Mukrim (nd): "Lisān al-Arab", Beirut: Dar al-Fikr for printing, publishing and distribution.
Ibn Hisham, Abd ol-Malek (1375 SH): "Alsiyrat al-nabawia li-Ibn hisham (The Biography of the Prophet)", Mustafa al-Babi al-Halabi Library and Press Company in Egypt.
Abu Al-Fotouh Razi, Hussein bin Ali (1408 AH): "Rawd al-Jinan and the Spirit of Heaven in the interpretation of the Qur’an", Mashhad: Astan Quds Razavi, Bonyad peajoheshhaye eslami.
Azhari, Muhammad bin Ahmed (1421 AH): Tahzib al-logha, Beirut: House of Revival of Arab Heritage.
Ismaili, Mehran (2003): “History” Encyclopedia of the Noble Qur’an, Qom: Center of Farhang and Knowledge of the Qur’an, Bostan-e- Ketab-e- Qom (publications of the Qum Seminary Reporting Book).
Bayhaqi, Ahmed bin Hussein (1408 AH): "Evidence of Prophecy and Knowledge of the Conditions of the Author of Sharia", Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyya, Dar al-Rayyan Heritage.
Tawfiqi, Hossein (2019): "A Companion to Great Religions", Tehran: Samt, 2ed Ed.
Jamhi, Muhammad bin Salam (1400 SH): "Tabaqat Stallion Poets", Jeddah: Dar Al-Madani.
Haj seyyed Javadi, S K., "A Survey on the Concept of MYTH in Islam’s Way of Treatment: Deliberating on the Quranic Meaning of “Myth’s” Various Features and Its Phenomenological Connotation", Kimiya-ye-Honar, Vol. 1, No. 2, pp. 121-134.
Haj Ismaili, Muhammad Reza and Maryam Peimani (2015): “Exploration of the Concept of Asatir al-Avvalin (‘Fables of the Men of Old’) in the Quran” Pazhouhesh Dini, Vol. 14, No. 30, pp. 75-93.
Hasani Jalilian, Muhammad Reza (2013): “Transformations in the interpretations of ‘tales of the ancients’” Qur’an and Hadith Sciences, Vol. 47, No. 2, pp. 49-73.
Khalaf Allah, Muhammad Ahmad (1999): Narrative Art in the Noble Qur’an, London: Sina Publishing, Arab Spread Institution.
Daroza, Muhammad Izza (1421 AH): "Modern Interpretation", Beirut: Dar al-Gharb al-Islami.
Ramiar, Mahmoud (1384SH): "Tarikh Quran", Tehran: Amir Kabir.
Rahid Reza, Muhammad (1414AH): "Tafsir al-Quran al-Hakim (Al-Manar)", Beirut: Dar-al Fikr.
Zubaidi, Muhammad Mortada (1414 AH): "The Crown of the Bride from the Jewels of the Dictionary", Beirut: Dar Al-Fikr.
Zamakhshari, Mahmoud bin Omar (1407 AH): "Al-Kashaf about the facts of the mysteries of revelation and the eyes of gossip in the faces of interpretation", Beirut: Dar Al-Kitab Al-Arabi.
Soyouti, Abd al-Rahman bin Abi Bakr (1421 AH): "Perfection in the Sciences of the Qur’an", Beirut: Dar al-Kitab al-Arabi.
Tabatabai, Seyyed Muhammad Hussein (1393 SH): "Al-Mizan fi tafsir al-Qur’an", Beirut: Al-Alame Institute for Publications.
Tabarsi, Fadl bin Hassan (1406 AH): "Majma' al-Bayan fi tafsir al-Qur'an", Beirut: Dar al-Maarifa for Printing and Publishing.
Tabari, Muhammad bin Jarir (1412 AH): "Jami’ al-Bayan fi Tafsir al-Qur’an (Tafsir al-Tabari)", Beirut: House of Knowledge.
Toosi, Mohammad bin Hassan (nd): "Al-Tibyan fi Tafsir al-Qur’an", Beirut: House of Revival of Arab Heritage.
Tayeb Hosseini, Seyyed Mahmoud (2009): “Naqdi bar inference Khalaf Allah Dar Bab the existence of the story of a legend, which is a story of the Qur’an”, Qur’an Shenakht, vol. 2, No. 1, p. 141-163.
------------------------------------------ (2010): “Semantics of Myths in the Holy Qur’ān”, Qur’an and Hadith Sciences, Vol. 42, No. 2, pp. 153-174.
------------------------------------------ (2010): "The trend of contemporary literary interpretation" Pathology of the Qur'an Interpretation Trends, Vol. 2, Qom: Research Institute of Hawzah and University.
Farahidi, Khalil bin Ahmad (1409 AH): "Kitab al-Ain", Qom: Hegra.
Fakhr Razi, Muhammad bin Omar (1420 AH): "Mafatih al-Ghayb (The Great Interpretation)", Beirut: House of Revival of Arab Heritage.
Fadl al-Allah, Muhammad Hosein (1419AH): "Min Vahy al-Quran", Beirut: dar al-Malaak.
Maturidi, Muhammad bin Muhammad (1426 AH): "Interpretations of the Sunnis (Tafsir al-Maturidi)", Beirut: Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyya - Publications of Muhammad Ali Beydoun.
Masoud, Michael (1994): "Arab Myths and Beliefs before Islam", Beirut: Dar Al-Alam for Millions.
Muqatil bin Suleiman (1423 AH): "The interpretation of Muqatil bin Suleiman", Beirut: House of Revival of Arab Heritage.
Mawlawi, Jalal al-Din Muhammad (2020): "Masnavi Ma'navi", Tehran: Science Publishing.
Howarth, Glennys and Oliver Leaman (2001): "Encyclopedia of death and dying", London: Routledge.
Jeffery, Arthur (1938): "The Foreign Vocabulary of the Qur'ān", Baroda.
Retief, F. P. and L. Cilliers (2006): "Burial customs, the afterlife and the pollution of death in ancient Greece", Acta Theologica 26(2).
Rosenthal, F. (2002): "History and the Qur’ān" Encyclopaedia of the Qur’an, Vol. 2, Leiden: Brill.
---------------- (2004): “Asāṭīr al-Awwalīn” Encyclopaedia of Islam, 2ed. Ed., Vol. 12, Leiden: Brill.
 
Stylistics Studies of the Holy Quran
Volume 6, Issue 2 - Serial Number 11
Sixth year, second issue, eleventh consecutively, autumn and winter, 2022
November 2022
Pages 84-107

  • Receive Date 13 November 2022
  • Revise Date 09 December 2022
  • Accept Date 09 January 2023
  • Publish Date 22 December 2022