The Exegesis of the Holy Qur'an by Imam al-Baqir(A.S.)
Among the sciences which Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Baqir), peace be on him, presented during his lectures was the exegesis of the Holy Koran. Indeed he devoted a time of his times to it. He discussed all of its affairs. The scholars of exegesis, though they had different opinions and trends, studied under him. Thus, he was the most brilliant explainer in Islam. Among his studies on the Koran are the following:
The Virtue of Reciting the Holy Qur'an
Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him, urged (the community) to recite the Holy Book, for it is the abundant source that guides people to righteousness, enlivens their hearts, and supplies them with abilities of light and awareness. He, peace be on him, reported what his grandfather Allah's Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family, said concerning the virtue of reciting the Koran. He, peace be on him, said:
[Allah's Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family, said:] "Whoever recites ten verses on a night is not written among the heedless. Whoever recites fifty verses is written among those who praise (Allah). Whoever recites a hundred verses is written among the obedient. Whoever recites two hundred verses is written among the humble. Whoever recites three hundred verses is written among the successful. Whoever recites five hundred verses is written among the strivers. Whoever recites a thousand verses, a hundredweight of gold is written for him.(Al-Bayan fi Tafsir al-Qur'an, p. 25)
Traditions similar to this have been reported on the authority of the Ima`ms of the members of the House (ahl al-Bayt), peace be on them. They urge Moslems to recite the Koran and to consider carefully its verses and to understand their secrets. Without doubt the verses of the Koran develop intellect, educate souls, protect them from deviation, and guide them to the right path.
Repetition of Reciting the Holy Qur'an
As for repeating and reciting the Koran with a good voice, it penetrates the depth of the heart and inner self. It reacts with sentiments, for the Koran has maxims and sciences necessary for life. The Ima`ms of the members of the House (ahl al Bayt), peace be on them, took care of reciting the Holy Koran. Thus, Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him, was the best of all the people in reciting the Koran with a good voice.1
Abu` Basir reported: I said to Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir): "When I recite the Koran loudly, Satan comes to me and says: with this (recitation) you want to please your family and the people."Ima`m al-Ba`qir, peace be on him, said: "Recite the Koran in an intermediate recitation. Let your family listen (to that). Read the Koran with a good voice. Indeed Allah likes reciting the Koran with a good voice.(Al-Bayan fi Tafsir al-Qur'an, p. 210)
The Holy Qur'an far above Falsehood
The Holy Koran is the great miracle of Islam."(This is) a Book, whose verses are made decisive, then are they made plain, from One Wise, All-aware.(This Book), there is no doubt in it, is a guide to those who guard (against evil)."There is no contradiction in its rules nor is there any incompatibility in its verses. And if it were from any other than Allah, they would have found in it many a discrepancy." Surely this Koran guides to that which is most upright." "Falsehood shall not come to it from before it nor from behind it."Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him, explained this verse, saying : "Falsehood does not come to it from before the Torah nor before the Bible and the Zabu`r (David's psalms). Nor from behind it means that no Book will come after it to abrogate it."In a narration from al-Sa`diq, peace be on him: "There is no falsehood in what the Koran has told about the past nor is there falsehood in what it has told about what will happen in the future.
The Imam dispraised those who distort the Holy Qur'an
Ima`m Abu Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him, dispraised those who distort Allah's Book. It is they who interpret its verses according to their own desires. Thus, he, peace be on him, wrote a letter to Sa'd al-Khayr: "Among their neglecting the Book is that they have rectified its letters and distorted its penal law. Indeed they see the Koran but they do not conform to it. The ignorant admire memorizing the narration. The religious scholars are sad when they leave the care.( Al-Wafi, p. 274)
Figurative Usage in the Holy Qur'an
Figurative usages are famous in the language of Arabs. They are famous in many matters such as figurative predication, figurative word. Among them is the chapter on allusions. It is said that allusions are more eloquent than direct expressions. These expressions are among the nice usage and beauties of this language. The Holy Koran has a large group of figurative usage. Among them is the following Words of Allah, the Exalted: "He said: O Iblis! what prevented you that you should do obeisance to him whom I created with My two hands?"The meaning of the word hand is the special organ. However, this is impossible for Allah, the Most High. That is because the hand is in need of a body, while this is rationally impossible for Allah, the Exalted. Mohammed b. Moslem asked Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir) about that. So, he, peace be on him, replied: "The word hand (yad) in the speech of Arabs means power and blessing. Allah, the Exalted, said: "And remember Our servant Da`uwd with hands."He said: "And the sky We built it with hands."It is said: "So-and-so has many hands with me, favors and kindness. He has a white hand with me, meaning blessing.(Nasikh al-Tawarikh, vol. 1, p. 434)
This means that the word hand (yad) is not used in its real meaning. Rather it is used in other than it, either figuratively or truly. That is because it includes all these meanings the Ima`m mentioned.
The Basmalah is Part of the Suras of the Holy Qur'an
Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him, and all the Ima`ms of the members of the House (ahl al-Bayt), peace be on them, believed that the basmalah (i. e. , in the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful) is part of the chapters of the Holy Koran. A large mass of the Moslem scholars and readers followed them in that.( Tafsir al-Alusi, vol. 1, p. 39)
Yahya` b. Abi 'Umra`n al-Hamada`ni wrote a letter to Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him. In the letter he mentioned: "May I be your ransom, what is your opinion of a man (who) started his prayers with: In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful, in the mother of the Book (i. e. , the first sura of the Holy Koran), and when he reached to a sura other than the mother of the Book, he left it (the basmalah)? The 'Abba`sid (man) said: There is no harm in that."So, the Ima`m, peace be on him, replied to him with a letter in which he mentioned: "He (i. e. , the man who left the basmalah) should repeat it twice in spite of him (the 'Abba`sid man).(Furu' al-Kafi, vol. 3, p. 312)
The traditions of the two parties (Sunna and Shi'a) have unanimously agreed on that the basmalah is part of the suras of the Holy Koran. Those who deny that are irregular.
The Holy Qur'an was revealed in Seven Letters
The commentators have made known that the Koran was revealed in seven letters. They claimed that Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him, said: "The Koran was revealed in seven letters.(Ghayat al-Nihaya fi Tabaqat al-Qurra', vol. 2, p. 202)
The ideas in this connection are so many that Abu` Ha`tam has mentioned that they are thirty-five.(Al-Qurtubi, Tafsir, vol. 1, p. 9)
It is necessary for us to give a brief idea about the meanings of the seven letters to know whether they are truly attributed to Ima`m Mohammed al-Ba`qir, peace be on him, or not.
The Seven Letters
There are various views about the meanings of the seven letters. The following are some of them:
1. The seven letters are: promise, threat, order, prohibition, stories, controversy, and proverbs. Ibn 'Atiya weakened this idea. He said: "These are not called letters.(Nazra 'Amma fi Tarikh al-Fiqh al-Islami, p. 67)
2. They are the differing words that have close meanings such as aqbil and halum (come! come on