False commentaries attributed to Imam al Baqir

In the preceding pages, respected reader, we had a glimpse of the manner in which Imam al Baqir rahimahu Llah commentated on the noble Qur’an, and it was in accordance with the guidance of the Messenger salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, his esteemed Companions, and those who followed them amongst the Tabi’in and those who came after them.

However, these commentaries and explanations did not please those who follow their desires, those who were a torment to the Ahlul Bayt of the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. These explanations did not appease their mind-set nor did it serve their desires and aberrations. They are those who strive to mislead the Ummah of the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam and trap them in the abyss of darkness, hiding behind their lies and deceptions, fabricating such traditions in the name of the honourable Imams of the Ahlul Bayt which any person of sound disposition will reject and a sound mind will denounce. When these ‘commentaries’ did not conform—in any way whatsoever—to the manner of the Qur’an nor the meaning or words supported in anyway; they resorted to fabricating so that they could fool the common masses into accepting these interpretations. So, they said, ‘this Qur’an has an apparent meaning and a hidden meaning,’ the apparent meaning is that which every reciter of the Qur’an is capable of comprehending, while the Hidden meaning is known only to the Imams.

Al ‘Ayyashi and al Fayd al Kashani have both reported with their chains of narration from Jabir al Ju’fi:

I asked Abu Jafar (al Baqir) regarding the interpretation of a portion of the Qur’an, to which he replied. Thereafter, I asked him a second time. His reply differed from the first one.

So, I said, “May I be sacrificed for you. Your answer today is different from your previous one.”

Thereupon, he said to me, “O Jabir, indeed the Qur’an has an outer and an inner. The inner has an outer and an inner and the outer has an outer. O Jabir, there is nothing further from the intellect of man than the commentary of the Qur’an. The beginning of a verse is regarding one thing and the end is regarding something else, but it is speech which is connected and it can be dealt with in many different ways.”[1]

In this manner they accuse Imam al Baqir rahimahu Llah of turning the Qur’an in a plaything to the extent that they unwittingly charge him with belying Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala by attributing the statement, ‘there is nothing further from the intellect of man than the commentary of the Qur’an,’ to him when Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala has said:

وَلَقَدْ يَسَّرْنَا الْقُرْآنَ لِلذِّكْرِ فَهَلْ مِن مُّدَّكِرٍ

And We have certainly made the Qur’an easy for remembrance, so is there any who will remember?[2]

And also:

أَفَغَيْرَ اللَّهِ أَبْتَغِي حَكَمًا وَهُوَ الَّذِي أَنزَلَ إِلَيْكُمُ الْكِتَابَ مُفَصَّلًا ۚ وَالَّذِينَ آتَيْنَاهُمُ الْكِتَابَ يَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّهُ مُنَزَّلٌ مِّن رَّبِّكَ بِالْحَقِّ ۖ فَلَا تَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْمُمْتَرِينَ

[Say], “Then is it other than Allah I should seek as judge while it is He who has revealed to you the Book explained in detail?” And those to whom We [previously] gave the Scripture know that it is sent down from your Lord in truth, so never be among the doubters.[3]

And in another verse:

وَيَرَى الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْعِلْمَ الَّذِي أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ مِن رَّبِّكَ هُوَ الْحَقَّ وَيَهْدِي إِلَىٰ صِرَاطِ الْعَزِيزِ الْحَمِيدِ

And those who have been given knowledge see that what is revealed to you from your Lord is the truth, and it guides to the path of the Exalted in Might, the Praiseworthy.[4]

How is it possible for Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala to describe the Qur’an as it guides to the path of the Exalted in Might, when its commentary is the furthest thing from the intellect of man; to the extent that the Imam himself, allegedly, interprets the Qur’an in two contradictory manners? Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala is Pure, verily this is grave accusation slander.

These hidden interpretations are not governed by any principles nor based on any science. The only rule it follows is glorifying the Imams of the Ahlul Bayt and besmearing the reputation of the Companions of the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, about whom Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala announced His eternal pleasure, at the head of them Abu Bakr and ‘Umar radiya Llahu ‘anhuma. These frauds and liars have turned the Clear Word of Allah into a book of petty name calling and disparagement. Then too it is as if the Almighty Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala was afraid to mention these ‘disbelievers’ by name and instead chose to insinuate and hint at who they are, we seek Allah’s forgiveness from such claims.

The Imams of the Ahlul Bayt detested these interpretations and severely warned against them. Imam Jafar al Sadiq was asked:

One of them narrated from you that the verse:

وَهُوَ الَّذِي فِي السَّمَاءِ إِلَٰهٌ وَفِي الْأَرْضِ إِلَٰهٌ

And it is Allah who is [the only] deity in the heaven, and on the earth [the only] deity.[5]

refers to the Imam.

Imam Jafar responded, “No, by Allah, he and I can never reside beneath the same roof ever. They are worse than the Jews, Christians, Zoroastrians, and those who ascribe partners to Allah. By Allah, their disparagement of Allah has not lowered His majesty in the least… By Allah, if I were to verify what the people of Kufah say about me the earth will swallow me. I am not but a servant of Allah, I do not possess the ability to harm or benefit anyone in the least.[6]

The people of Kufah, who the Imam has warned against in the previous narration—comprising of Jabir al Ju’fi, Zurarah ibn A’yan, and their likes—brazenly fabricated in the name of the Ahlul Bayt and circulated these falsities by which they were able to mislead a large number of people. We ask Allah’s protection from misguidance. It is evident now, dear reader, that if we are truly lovers of the Ahlul Bayt then it is our responsibility to absolve them from these deviant interpretations and assist them in countering those who lied against them; by promulgating their true scholarly legacy, free from the lies and deviant ideologies falsely attributed to them. May Allah be pleased with them all.

Before we begin exploring some examples of these Batini commentaries which have been fabricated in the name of Imam al Baqir rahimahu Llah, as well refute them and point out its aberrant and fallacious nature, I wish to remind you, dear reader, of a statement of Imam al Baqir rahimahu Llah:

Whatever opposes the Book of Allah, will be repudiated by the Qur’an and the Sunnah.[7]

His son, al Sadiq rahimahu Llah, said:

Every matter should be referred to the Qur’an and Sunnah, and every Hadith that does not conform to the Book of Allah is deception.[8]

Those who insistent upon holding onto their false ideologies by adhering to these Batini interpretations, regarding which Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala has not revealed any proof, we hope for their guidance while dissociating ourselves from them and their falsehood. Verily Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala has mentioned that this Qur’an bears glad tidings for the believers, while it only increases those who disbelieve in their misguidance and disbelief. These two paths can never converge. Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala says:

وَإِذَا مَا أُنزِلَتْ سُورَةٌ فَمِنْهُم مَّن يَقُولُ أَيُّكُمْ زَادَتْهُ هَٰذِهِ إِيمَانًا فَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا فَزَادَتْهُمْ إِيمَانًا وَهُمْ يَسْتَبْشِرُونَ وَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ فِي قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ فَزَادَتْهُمْ رِجْسًا إِلَىٰ رِجْسِهِمْ وَمَاتُوا وَهُمْ كَافِرُونَ أَوَلَا يَرَوْنَ أَنَّهُمْ يُفْتَنُونَ فِي كُلِّ عَامٍ مَّرَّةً أَوْ مَرَّتَيْنِ ثُمَّ لَا يَتُوبُونَ وَلَا هُمْ يَذَّكَّرُونَ وَإِذَا مَا أُنزِلَتْ سُورَةٌ نَّظَرَ بَعْضُهُمْ إِلَىٰ بَعْضٍ هَلْ يَرَاكُم مِّنْ أَحَدٍ ثُمَّ انصَرَفُوا صَرَفَ اللَّهُ قُلُوبَهُم بِأَنَّهُمْ قَوْمٌ لَّا يَفْقَهُونَ

And whenever a surah is revealed, there are among the hypocrites those who say, “Which of you has this increased faith?” As for those who believed, it has increased them in faith, while they are rejoicing. But as for those in whose hearts is disease, it has [only] increased them in evil [in addition] to their evil. And they will have died while they are disbelievers. Do they not see that they are tried every year once or twice but then they do not repent nor do they remember? And whenever a surah is revealed, they look at each other, [saying], “Does anyone see you?” and then they dismiss themselves. Allah has dismissed their hearts because they are a people who do not understand.[9]

Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala has warned His servants from delving into that regarding which they have no knowledge:

قُلْ إِنَّمَا حَرَّمَ رَبِّيَ الْفَوَاحِشَ مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَمَا بَطَنَ وَالْإِثْمَ وَالْبَغْيَ بِغَيْرِ الْحَقِّ وَأَن تُشْرِكُوا بِاللَّهِ مَا لَمْ يُنَزِّلْ بِهِ سُلْطَانًا وَأَن تَقُولُوا عَلَى اللَّهِ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ

Say, “My Lord has only forbidden immoralities – what is apparent of them and what is concealed – and sin, and oppression without right, and that you associate with Allah that for which He has not sent down authority, and that you say about Allah that which you do not know.”[10]

Respected reader, ask yourself; who is more Truthful: Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala or those who lie against Him and claim that the Qur’an has an apparent meaning and a Hidden meaning? They then proceed to attribute these statements to the Imams of the Ahlul Bayt in order to make it palatable to the common masses. Do not be fooled and pursue your emotions; refer to the Book of Allah as it contains guidance and light. Read it, ponder over it, reflect on its meaning, supplicate to Allah with sincerity, and seek guidance from Him. Verily, by Allah, there is no one who sought refuge with Allah and found his hopes dashed; as Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala says:

وَالَّذِينَ جَاهَدُوا فِينَا لَنَهْدِيَنَّهُمْ سُبُلَنَا وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَمَعَ الْمُحْسِنِينَ

And those who strive for Us – We will surely guide them to Our ways. And indeed, Allah is with the doers of good.[11]

Our call is clear and apparent; return to the Book of Allah and assess things in light of it. Whatever is found to be in accordance to it, hold on to it firmly; and whatever contradicts it, cast it aside. Is this not the sensible thing to do?

Imam Ahmed rahimahu Llah would supplicate:

Whoever is misled by his desires or opinions but thinks that he is upon the truth, return him to the Truth such that none of this Ummah is misled.[12]

NEXT⇒ Examples of Batini commentaries attributed to Imam al Baqir

[1] Tafsir al ‘Ayyashi, 1/11; Tafsir al Safi, 1/29.

[2] Surah al Qamar: 17.

[3] Surah al An’am: 114.

[4] Surah al Saba’: 6.

[5] Surah al Zukhruf: 84.

[6] Ikhtiyar Marifat al Rijal, 2/590.

[7] Al Fusul al Muhimmah Fi Usul al A’immah, 2/366.

[8] Al Kulayni: Al Kafi, 1/69.

[9] Surah al Tawbah: 124-127.

[10] Surah al A’raf: 33.

[11] Surah al ‘Ankabut: 69.

[12] Tahdhib al Kamal, 1/464.