Tafsir Al-Safi; A Quran Interpretation Focusing on Hadiths from Infallibles
Due to its brevity and comprehensiveness, the Quran exegesis has always been welcomed by scholars and researchers.
In this work, Fayd Kashani has used the narrative method of interpretation, using both Shia and Sunni sources of Hadith.
Mulla Muhsin Fayd Kashani (1598-1680) was a prominent scholarly figure in 17th century Iran who wrote more than 200 works in different fields of knowledge. He was born and died in Iran’s central city of Kashan. His father had a large library in the city.
After learning the basics in his hometown, Mulla Muhsin went to the city of Shiraz to study with Seyed Majed Sadeqi Bahrani and Mulla Sadra.
He was especially close to Mulla Sadra and later married his daughter. At the order of Mulla Sadra he chose the title Fayd. He also learned a lot from Khalil Qazvini and Mohammad Saleh Mazandarani. In the field of Hikma (wisdom, philosophy), he followed Mulla Sadra and in Irfan (mysticism), he was inclined to the ideas of Muhiyeddin al-Arabi.
Tafsir Al-Safi is among the most famous Shia interpretations of the Quran. It is in Arabic and in it, Mulla Muhsin has interpreted all verses of the Quran referring to related Hadiths. The book has an introduction in which the author offers his views and an analysis of which can reveal his approach, foundations and methods used in interpretation of the Quran.
He says the demand by some of his friends about writing a Quran exegesis based on the Hadiths of the Infallibles (AS) motivated him to embark on the task.
He said understanding and explaining the verses of the Quran is only possible through the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and Ahl-ul-Bayt (AS) and whatever is not from them in this regard, is not reliable. Failing to refer to the sayings of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and Ahl-ul-Bayt (AS) in Quran interpretation is a kind of Tafsir Bil-Ray (pure personal speculation), which is wrong, he says.
In Tafsir al-Safi, the author begins with the name of the Surah, it being Makki or Madani, and the number of the verses. He then interprets the Muhkam verses (the entirely clear verses which are clear and concerning which there is no confusion). He then offers Hadiths from reliable Shia sources and then from Sunni sources. He also discusses issues related to Sha’an Nuzul (reason for revelation), vocabulary, reading, etc, and then offers Hadiths about the virtues of the Surah and rewards from reading it. Sometimes he also analyzes or explains about the Hadiths.
In writing Tafsirs al-Safi, Fayd Kashani has benefited a lot from a Quran exegesis attributed to Imam Hassan al-Askari (AS) as well as Baithawi’s Quran interpretation. He writes that in interpreting Surah Al-Baqarah, he has mostly used the exegesis attributed to Imam Hassan al-Askari (AS). In citing Hadiths, he has used many interpretation and other works such as Qomi Exegesis, Ayashi Exegesis, Kafi and Majma al-Bayan Exegesis.
