Tafseer of Shia scholar ‘Al-Asi’
Question:-
Can Mufti Saheb please provide a detailed Fatwa on a new Tafseer called ‘The Ascendant Quraan’ by Al-Asi?
How reliable is it?
What is the purpose of it?
If it is not reliable, then what is the status of the Imaan of those who believe in it?
Answer:-
Al-Asi, the author of the Tafseer titled, ‘The Ascendant Quraan’, is a Shia. He is fully in favour of Khomeini and the Islamic Revolution in Iran. Al-Asi is affiliated with the UK-based, pro-Iranian, Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC). Also, Al-Asi publicly swore allegiance to the Iranian Supreme leader in 1994. Following the 1979 Iranian Revolution, Al-Asi publicly expressed his support for the Islamic Republic and its leader, Ayatollah Khomeini.
The following excerpts clearly prove his inclination towards Shi’sm:
He states, “I think, a very relevant example of how we Muslims in the world, can go about bringing into existence a change that we all yearn for. The Islamic Revolution in Iran is a revolution that took place within a population base with an Islamic leadership that went about methodically rebuilding an Islamic Order from scratch, and with all the challenges that it had to face. It was attacked from outside by the imperialist powers from Iraq, in 1980, and that war has continued in many other forms and fashions up until this very day, and it withstood all of that while still trying to build its internal order. It ran into the same obstacles and the same challenges that the prophet of Allah and the first generation of Muslims faced.”
He also states that in the near future there is going to be a much better understanding of the Islamic Revolution in Iran amongst the general public. “There is in Iran, a culture of convergence amongst the Muslims from all schools of thought and from all historic perspectives, based on what we have in common rather than what separates us. This work has been going on for 20 years and as a result, there is better understanding among all Muslims who have been involved, whether they are scholars, whether they are intellectuals or plain Muslim activists and workers.”
He also states that the sectarian elements within both Sunnis and Shias are going to die out. The two groups will learn that whatever differences they have are trivial compared to the problems that they face. He mentions that Iran is the one and only Islamic state in the modern world.
Coming to your questions:
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After understanding the position of the author and thereafter, reading or studying his Tafseer, one will be endangering his own Imaan. How can the Tafseer of a Shia ever be authentic? They harbour hatred and, in fact, swear the noble Companions (Radiallahu Anhum) of Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam; they believe that the Quraan with us is not complete; they accuse Aisha Radiallahu Anha of fornication; their Deen is based on concealing the truth and speaking lies etc.
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We haven’t studied Al-Asi’s interpretation of Tafseer hence, we are not aware of his objective. It does, however, come across as him wanting to explain the verses of the Quraan according to the current times, which is based on his understanding, and ultimately, getting the Muslims to unite with the Shias. The explanation of the Quraan Sharif (which is referred to as “Tafseer”) has come to us directly from Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam and that is the accepted Tafseer which we are required to follow. Tafseer, according to the opinion of any scholar, is not permitted and is not worthy of being followed.
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We have indicated in #1 that by reading the Tafseer of Al-Asi, one could lose his Imaan, particularly if he adopts an incorrect belief that is mentioned therein. We, therefore, advise the Muslim Ummah to refrain from studying this “Tafseer”. In fact, no bookshop should promote or sell the Tafseer of Al-Asi. It is only those that are inclined towards Shi’sm that will stock such literature.
ALLAH TA’ALA KNOWS BEST!
ANSWERED BY:
Mufti Mohammed Desai
Date: 18 Dhul Hijjah 1443 / 18 July 2022