نوع مقاله : مقاله پژوهشی
عنوان مقاله English
نویسنده English
The narrations concerning the physical expansion of the Prophet’s chest (Sharḥ'e Ṣadr) have led to interpretive disagreements among Sunni and Shia exegetes, thereby obscuring the meaning of the aforementioned verse. Most exegetes have regarded Sharḥ'e Ṣadr as metaphorical—symbolizing the broadening of the heart and spirit to receive revelation, deliver its message, and endure hardships. However, certain scholars from the 7th century AH, citing narrations about the physical opening of the Prophet’s chest, washing of his heart, and its filling with knowledge and faith, have affirmed a literal, physical interpretation. These narrations first appeared in the third century AH among Sunni scholars and subsequently in the fourth century among Shia exegetes, often cited without critical scrutiny. Some Sunni scholars from the 7th, 9th, and 14th centuries AH have also supported this view. This study adopts an analytical-comparative method to trace the historical development and typology of perspectives on the nature of the Prophet’s Sharḥ'e Ṣadr from the early centuries to the present. The findings indicate that the physical interpretation of Sharḥ'e Ṣadr is fundamentally untenable due to the speculative nature and internal inconsistencies of the relevant narrations—particularly in terms of time, place, agents involved, and the method of washing—as well as their conflict with the authentic narration of spiritual expansion, the clear verses (muḥkamāt) of the Qur’an, the context of the Surah, semantic instances based on chronological order of similar verses, and rational arguments. Moreover, the commonly understood and contextually consistent meaning of Sharḥ'e Ṣadr refers to spiritual openness. Accepting the physical interpretation would imply repeated impurity of the Prophet’s heart, necessitating cleansing by others or angels—an implication that contradicts Divine Unity in action (Tawḥīd-i Af‘ālī), the verse of purification (Āyat al-Taṭhīr), and the doctrine of prophetic infallibility (‘Iṣmah).
کلیدواژهها English
