Tafsir al-Ayyashi (book)

Tafsir al-'Ayyashi

Tafsīr al-'Ayyāshī (تفسیر العیاشی), written by Abu l-Manzar Muhammad b. Mas'ud 'Ayyash al-Salmi al-Samarqandi renowned as 'Ayyashi (d. 320/932), is among the Shi'a hadith sources. The author was one of the great Shi'a hadith scholars, living contemporary with al-Kulayni during the minor occultation period. Same as Tafsir al-Qummi and Tafsir Furat al-Kufi, the exegetical method of this commentary on Qur'an is based on hadiths.

Introducing the book

Tafsir al-'Ayyashi, belonging to the minor occultation period (260/874-329/941), is of the old Twelver Shi'a commentaries. Same as other commentaries of that period, it interprets the ayas by means of related hadiths. Still it enjoys a judicial aspect more than other contemporary Shi'a commentaries, such as Tafsir al-Qummi and Tafsir Furat al-Kufi, owing to the author's attentive consideration of Ayat al-Ahkam

The loss of parts of the book

According to what is transmitted from this commentary to the later writings, most likely the book originally included the interpretation of the whole Qur'an, but only a part of the first volume (from the beginning of Sura al-Hamd until the end of Sura al-Kahf still survives.

Commentary scholars have used and narrated hadith from this commentary on Qur'an, which was originally written in two volumes. In his book, Shawahid al-Tanzil, Hakim al-Hasakani has narrated about 30 hadiths from it. Likewise, al-Shaykh al-Tabarsi has narrated about 70 hadiths from both volumes of this book. al-'Allamah al-Majlisi says that he has seen two copies of this commentary. The second volume of the book is lost ever since. Agha Buzurg Tehrani counts six different manuscript and printed copies of the first volume.

The position of the book and the author

Although both Shi'a and sunni rijal scholars and biographers have acclaimed 'Ayyashi and presented him as one of the greatest Shi'a scholars in fiqh and hadith, some have criticized him for his widely narrating from unreliable hadith transmitters. Many Shi'a scholars such as al-Sayyid Hashim al-Bahrani in his commentary on Qur'an al-Burhan, al-'Allama al-Majlisi in Bihar al-Anwar, and Fiyz Kashani in Tafsir al-Safi have largely quoted from this book. 'Allama Tabataba'i has written a preface for this book, stating the significance and great position of this commentary on Qur'an.

Characteristics

In a short introduction to his book, 'Ayyashi has mentioned some hadiths about the merits of Qur'an, abandoning the hadiths in contradiction to Qur'an, reproaching the interpretation of Qur'an according to one's own idea, studying Qur'anic sciences; such as Nasikh and Mansukh, Zahir and Batin, Muhkam and Mutashabih, and the necessity of consulting the infallible Imams (a) for understanding and interpreting the Qur'an.

Conforming to other Shi'a commentaries in that period, the author has stated some hadiths regarding the virtues of Ahl al-Bayt (a) and the vices of their enemies, and has sought to propagate the Imami beliefs and doctrines.

The distinction between 'Ayyashi commentary and Tafsir al-Qummi or Tafsir Furat al-Kufi (other commentaries of the early centuries based on hadiths) is 'Ayyashi's special respect for the juridical aspects of Ayat al-Ahkam. He has also attended the Islamic theology and Shi'a and none-Shi'a sects, and remarked some hadiths considering these issues.

The author has omitted the transmitters of the hadiths, as he has explained in the introduction, due to briefness of the book and convenience of scribers, and to represent the book by one who has received it from the author by means of Sama' or Ijaza in a proper chance.

The printings of the commentary

1. The printing of Maktaba al-Islamiya, Tehran, 1380/1961
2. The printing of Mr. Sayyid Hashim Rasuli Mahallati in 2 volumes, with an introduction by 'Allama Tabataba'i.
3. The printing of Bi'tha Institute in 3 volumes, Qom, 1421/2001. In this printing 116 lost hadiths which have been related in other Shi'a and none-Shi'a books are compiled, and 'Ayyashi's means to other transmitters of hadith are mentioned.

External Links

• The material for this article is mainly taken from تفسیر عیاشی in Farsi Wikishia.