(Sura Baqarah 2...

(Sura Baqarah 2:21) That those who have been given the book are the Holy Imams (a.s.).[^1] Kulaini has, with reliable chains of narrators, quoted Imam Sadiq (a.s.), saying while explaining verse: وَأُوحِيَ إِلَيَّ هَذَا الْقُرْآنُ لِأُنذِرَكُمْ بِهِ. This Quran has been revealed to me so that I may warn you through it. (Sura Anam 6:19) And in the explanation of “those who” (reach this rank), said that it means those from the Progeny of Muhammad (S) who may reach Imamate.

He also warns people through Quran as the Holy Prophet (S) used to warn. Ali bin Ibrahim has narrated that “those who reach this rank” means the Imam. The Hazrat said that Muhammad (S) was warning (about Allah’s anger) and so also do we.[^2] Ali bin Ibrahim has narrated with reliable chains of narrators from Imam Sadiq (a.s.) that the Holy Quran is the warner which creates love for Paradise and make one try to save oneself from Hell.

There are clear-cut verses which give clear evidence of the meaning and the aim. And there also are some verses which are not so clear (allegorical) from which many meanings can be derived. Hence it is difficult to know their meanings and aims. But you can act upon the Clear verses and put only faith on the allegorical ones but you cannot act upon them.

This is the word of Allah: فَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ زَيْغٌ فَيَتَّبِعُونَ مَا تَشَابَهَ مِنْهُ ابْتِغَاءَ الْفِتْنَةِ وَابْتِغَاءَ تَأْوِيلِهِ وَمَا يَعْلَمُ تَأْوِيلَهُ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَالرَّاسِخُونَ فِي الْعِلْمِ. Then as for those in whose hearts there is perversity they follow the part of it which is allegorical, seeking to mislead and seeking to give it (their own) interpretation. But none knows its interpretation except Allah, and those who are firmly rooted in knowledge.

(Sura Ale-Imran 3:7) And those who are perfect in knowledge are Aale Muhammad. Likewise, Ali bin Ibrahim, the author of Ikhtisas has, with reliable chains of narrators, quoted Imam Baqir (a.s.) saying that the Holy Prophet (S) was most perfect in the knowledge and he knew what Allah has sent to him in Quran and also its meaning, that is, he knew both the apparent and the hidden of the Holy Quran, it had never so happened that Allah sent him a verse but did not show him its meaning.

Similarly his legates who came after him also knew both the revelation and interpretation of the Holy Quran.

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