Al-Silm Verse: Difference between revisions

The Qur'an 2:208 is known as "al-Silm Verse". <ref>Rāḍī, Sabīl al-nijāt, vol. 1, p. 54. </ref> The verse and its six following verses are characterized as providing a solution for the protection of religious unity in the human community. <ref>Ṭabāṭabāyī, al-Mīzān, vol. 2, p. 101. </ref> The verse was revealed about a group of Jews, led by Abd Allah b. Salam, who believed in the Prophet (s), but wished to act upon the rulings and commands of Prophet Moses's (a) sharia. They respected Saturdays, avoided camel's meat and milk, and complied with certain other rulings of the Torah. Their conducts raised complaints and objections among Muslims. The Jews asked the Prophet (s) to permit them to comply with the shutdown of businesses on Saturdays and the forbiddance of the camel's meat. However, the verse was revealed, commanding them to be committed to all Islamic rulings without any exceptions. <ref>Wāḥidī, Asbāb nuzūl al-Qurʾān, p. 68; Ibn Sulaymān, Tafsīr al-Maqātil, vol. 1, p. 180. </ref>

"Silm" in the verse has been interpreted as Islam, peace, and the submission to God. <ref>Ṭūsī, al-Tibyān, vol. 2, p. 186. </ref> And "entering into Silm (submission)" is interpreted as entering into Islam or into the submission to God and His commands, asking people to fully comply with Islam and indiscriminately act upon all of its rulings. <ref>Ṭabrisī, Majmaʿ al-bayān, vol. 2, p. 536. </ref> In Tafsir-i nimuna, "silm" is interpreted as peace, in which case the verse would imply that peace is only possible in light of faith. Thus, mundane laws can never wipe wars and insecurities off the face of the world. Indeed, dependence on such laws is an origin of tensions and fights. <ref>Makārim Shīrāzī, Tafsīr-i nimūna, vol. 2, p. 82. </ref>

In al-Mizan, "silm" in the verse has been interpreted as surrender to God after believing in Him in such a way that one does not go on a path based on personal opinions and interpretations – a path different from that commanded by God and His Messenger (s), because if people abandon God and follow their personal desires, then they will be destroyed. On this exegesis, "following the footsteps of Satan" is interpreted as following satanic calls disguised as religious, where such calls are heeded by ignorant people. Such calls are satanic because they do not appear in the teachings of God and the Prophet (s). <ref>Ṭabāṭabāyī, al-Mīzān, vol. 2, p. 101-102. </ref>

In some hadiths, entering into the submission to God in the verse has been interpreted as entering into the wilaya of Imam Ali (a) and other Imams (a). <ref>Kulaynī, al-Kāfī, vol. 1, p. 417; Ṭūsī, al-Amālī, p. 299</ref> In the Quranic exegesis attributed to Imam al-Hasan al-Askari (a), the acknowledgment of the wilaya of Imam Ali (a) is tantamount to the acknowledgment of the prophethood of the Prophet (s), and a person who acknowledges the prophethood of the Prophet (s) without acknowledging the wilaya of Ali (a) as his successor is not a Muslim. <ref>Tafsīr-i mansūb bi Imām Ḥasan ʿAsharī, vol. 1, p. 126. </ref>

Al-Silm Verse implies that Islam has provided people with all rulings and teachings they need for their own good, and they do not need anything beyond such rulings and teachings. <ref>Ṭabāṭabāyī, al-Mīzān, vol. 2, p. 101. </ref>

The belief in God and compliance with His commands is the pivot of unity within the human community and the link interconnecting the hearts of peoples and nations. <ref>Makārim Shīrāzī, Tafsīr-i nimūna, vol. 2, p. 82. </ref> <ref>https://en.wikishia.net/view/Qur%27an_2:208</ref>