Classical and Contemporary Islamic Studies

Classical and Contemporary Islamic Studies

Critique of Dhahabī’s Perspective throughout the Historical Periods of Shiʻa Exegesis with the Presentation of a New Model

Document Type : Scholary

Authors
Amir Joudavi
Mohammad Hossein Baroomand
Samiyeh Shahbazi
Department of Qurʼān and Hadith Sciences, Faculty of Theology, Yazd University, Yazd, Iran
10.22059/jcis.2025.392641.1415
Abstract
The history of the Shiʻa exegesis refers to the history of writing the exegesis written by a non-infallible commentator. The main purpose of this article is to criticize Dhahabī’s perspective about Shiʻa exegesis and to explain its historical periods throughout presentation of a new model. In this model, The time periods are two stages, five ages and two steps, respectively: the period of the two stages includes: the first stage from the beginning to 440 AH; The second stage from 440 up to now. Five ages including: the first and second ages of the first stage from the beginning to 95 AH; the third age of the first stage from 95 up to 440 AH; the first age of second stage from 440 until 1091 AH; the second age of second stage from year 1091 AH up to now. Also, the time period of the steps of the third age includes: the first step from 95 up to 260 AH and the second step from 260 AH to 440. Also prominent people of each time period, respectively, are: Imam ʻAlī (AS); Saeed Ibn Jubayr, Imām Ḥassan ʻAskarī (AS), Sheykh Ṭūsī and Fayḍ Kāshānī and the time periods are two stages, five ages and two steps, respectively.
Keywords
History of Shiʻa exegesis
ma’thur exegesis (tafsīrī ma’thur)
ijtīhādī exegesis (tafsīrī ijtīhādī)
bases and tendencies of interpretation
Subjects
The Holy Qur’ān.
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Classical and Contemporary Islamic Studies
Volume 9, Issue 1
Winter & Spring
January 2027
Pages 47-61