Tafsir al-Ayyashi (book): Difference between revisions

'''''Tafsīr al-ʿAyyāshī''''' (Arabic:تفسیر العیاشی), written by [[Muhammad b. Mas'ud al-'Ayyashi]] (d. [[320]]/932-933), is among the [[Shi'a]] [[Hadith-Based Quranic Exegesis]]es. 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.

''Tafsir al-'Ayyashi'', belonging to the [[minor occultation]] period ([[260]]/874 -[[329]]/941), is of the old [[Twelver Shi'a]] [[exegesis]]es. Same as other exegesises of that period, it interprets the [[verse]]s by means of related [[hadith]]s. Still it enjoys a [[Jurisprudence|Jurisprudential]] aspect more than other contemporary Shi'a exegesises, such as ''[[Tafsir al-Qummi]]'' and ''[[Tafsir Furat al-Kufi]]'', owing to the author's attentive consideration of [[Ayat al-Ahkam]]

According to what is transmitted from this exegesis 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.

Exegesis scholars have used and narrated [[hadith]] from this book, which was originally written in two volumes. In his book, ''[[Shawahid al-tanzil]]'', [[Hakim al-Hasakani]] has narrated about 30 hadiths from it. Likewise, [[Fadl b. Hasan al-Tabrasi|al-Shaykh al-Tabrasi]] has narrated about 70 hadiths from both volumes of this book. [[Al-'Allama al-Majlisi]] says that he has seen two copies of this exegesis. The second volume of the book is lost ever since. [[Agha Buzurg Tehrani]] counts six different manuscript and printed copies of the first volume.

Although both [[Shi'a]] and [[sunni]] [[rijal]] scholars and biographers have acclaimed al-'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 the Qur'an ''[[al-Burhan fi tafsir al-Qur'an|al-Burhan]]'', [[al-'Allama al-Majlisi]] in ''[[Bihar al-Anwar]]'', and [[al-Fayd al-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 [[exegesis]].

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

Conforming to other [[Shi'a]] [[exegesis]]se 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 promote the [[Imami]] beliefs and doctrines.

The distinction between exegesis of al-'Ayyashi and ''[[Tafsir al-Qummi]]'' or ''[[Tafsir Furat al-Kufi]]'' (other exegesises of the early centuries based on hadiths) is al-'Ayyashi's special respect for the [[Jurisprudence|Jurisprudential]] 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 printing of Bi'that Institute in 3 volumes, [[Qom]], [[1421]]/2001. In this printing 116 lost [[hadith]]s which have been related in other Shi'a and none-Shi'a books are compiled, and [[al-'Ayyashi]]'s means to other transmitters of hadith are mentioned.