Zabur
Zabur is the name of one of the heavenly books which, according to the narration of the Quran and traditions, was revealed to Prophet David (peace be upon him), one of the prophets of the Children of Israel. This book is full of admonition, wisdom, and supplication to the Lord. The name Zabur is mentioned three times in the Quran, in the surahs of Nisa, Anbiya, and Isra. Some researchers have equated the Zabur mentioned by the Quran with the Psalms in the Old Testament. This book is in the Hebrew language and was revealed after the Torah[1][2].
Meaning of Zabur in Lexicon and Terminology
In lexicon, Zabur means writing and book, and in terminology, it refers to the book that was revealed to Prophet David (peace be upon him).
Reason for Naming
It is stated in narrative sources: Since this book was revealed as a written collection on tablets, it was named Zabur[3]. Some researchers believe that Zabur is taken from the Hebrew root "Zamara," which means power, as well as voice or song, and some have considered Zabur to mean written[4].
Zabur in the Quran
As indicated, the Quran has mentioned Zabur in the surahs of Nisa, Isra, and Anbiya:
«إِنَّا أَوْحَیْنا إِلَیْکَ کَما أَوْحَیْنا إِلی نُوحٍ وَ النَّبِیِّینَ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ وَ أَوْحَیْنا إِلی إِبْراهیمَ وَ إِسْماعیلَ وَ إِسْحاقَ وَ یَعْقُوبَ وَ الْأَسْباطِ وَ عیسی وَ أَیُّوبَ وَ یُونُسَ وَ هارُونَ وَ سُلَیْمانَ وَ آتَیْنا داوُدَ زَبُورا»[5]: Indeed, We have sent revelation to you just as We sent revelation to Noah and the prophets after him, and (also) to Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and the Descendants [Children of Israel] and Jesus and Job and Jonah and Aaron and Solomon, and We gave David the Zabur.
«وَ رَبُّکَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَنْ فِی السَّماواتِ وَ الْأَرْضِ وَ لَقَدْ فَضَّلْنا بَعْضَ النَّبِیِّینَ عَلی بَعْضٍ وَ آتَیْنا داوُدَ زَبُوراً»[6]: Your Lord knows best those who are in the heavens and the earth, and (if We have preferred you over others, it is due to your merit). We have preferred some prophets over others, and We gave David the Zabur.
«وَ لَقَدْ کَتَبْنا فِی الزَّبُورِ مِنْ بَعْدِ الذِّکْرِ أَنَّ الْأَرْضَ یَرِثُها عِبادِیَ الصَّالِحُون»[7]: We wrote in the Zabur after the Remembrance (Torah) that My righteous servants will inherit the (government of the) earth.
Types of Heavenly Books
It is understood from the verses of the Quran and Islamic traditions that heavenly books are of two kinds; the first kind consists of books that include a new religion and Sharia along with specific rulings, these types of books were revealed to the Ulul Azm prophets. The second kind consists of books that did not proclaim a new Sharia, but rather contain admonitions, advice, recommendations, and prayers, and the book of Zabur of David is of the second kind. In Shia exegesis, it is pointed out that the Zabur did not propose a specific Sharia or new religion, but rather contained admonitions, advice, guidance, recommendations, and prayers[8]. Moreover, the Zabur of David possesses a special feature among other books of the prophets, as it is completely comprised of supplication and advice. It is explicitly stated in the Quran that We have granted the Zabur to Prophet David (peace be upon him), but some Sunni exegetes have said that the purpose of Zabur is absolute books that were revealed to prophets[9]. However, in Shia exegesis, it is stated that there is no acceptable evidence for this claim[10].
Zabur in Traditions
Abu Dharr Ghiffari narrates from the Prophet (peace be upon him and his progeny) that His Holiness said: Zabur is one of the 104 books that were revealed to the people of the world[11].
Distortion of the Zabur
According to the admission of Jews and Christians, a little more than seventy psalms out of one hundred and fifty Psalms of the Zabur are attributed to Prophet David (peace be upon him) and other psalms were added to it in later times[12][13].
Footnotes
رده:کتابها رده:کتابهای آسمانی
- ↑ Adapted from the book A'lam al-Quran, written by Mohammad Khaza'ili, pp. 346 and 347
- ↑ Hosseini Dashti, Sayyed Mustafa, Ma'arif wa Ma'arif, 3/1113
- ↑ Allamah Majlisi, Mohammad Baqir, Bihar al-Anwar, Vol. 33, p. 14
- ↑ Tabatabai, Sayyed Mohammad Hossein, Al-Mizan, Persian Translation, Qom, Vol. 5, p. 229
- ↑ Surah Nisa, Verse 163
- ↑ Surah Isra, Verse 55
- ↑ Surah Anbiya, Verse 105
- ↑ See, Makarem Shirazi, Naser, Tafsir-e Namuna, Vol. 4, p. 214
- ↑ Suyuti, Jalal al-Din, Tafsir al-Jalalayn, Beirut, Published by Al-Nour Foundation for Publications, Year 1416, First Edition, p. 334
- ↑ Tabatabai, Sayyed Mohammad Hossein, Translation of Tafsir al-Mizan, Vol. 14, p. 465
- ↑ Sheikh Tabarsi, Fadl ibn Hasan, Majma' al-Bayan, Vol. 10, p. 476
- ↑ Qamus-e Kitab-e Moghaddas, 796-800.
- ↑ Tarikh-e Mokhtasar-e Adyan-e Bozorg, pp. 279-280.