The role of the context in interpreting the verse "None touch it except the purified" (Qur'an 56:79): A comparative study of Tafsir al-Mizan and Tafsir Tasnim

Document Type : Academicm and Research

Author

Assistant Professor, Department of Quran and Hadith Sciences, Hoda Faculty of Theology and Islamic Studies, Qom, Iran

10.22091/ptt.2026.14991.2572

Abstract

The verse "None touch it except the purified" (Al-Waqi'ah: 79) has been a point of contention among exegetes due to ambiguity in its pronoun, concept of "touching," and instances of "the purified." Using a comparative-analytical method, this research examines context's role (verses 75-82) in interpreting this verse in Tafsir al-Mizan and Tafsir Tasnim.



Both commentators utilize context to weaken the jurisprudential-literal perspective and emphasize spiritual purity for understanding the Qur'an. Allamah Tabatabai refers the pronoun to the "Noble Qur'an," interprets "touching" as knowledge of profound teachings, and introduces the Ahl al-Bayt as the most complete instance of "the purified." Ayatollah Javadi Amoli, with an ontological-mystical foundation, refers the pronoun to "the Hidden Book," interprets "touching" as existential connection, and considers "the purified" exclusively the Infallibles.



Although their views are not fundamentally different, they are methodologically distinct. The outcomes include resolving ambiguity about inner purity as essential for understanding the Qur'an, highlighting context's role in contemporary Shia commentaries, and strengthening comparative studies.

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Comparative Interpretation Research

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 27 May 2026

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