ABSTRACTS No.76 - Page 195

ABSTRACTS

Traditions of superiority of Yūnus (Jonah) and Yaḥyā (John); contradiction and tactics

Ali Rad

Superiority of Prophet Muhammad (S) to other prophets, infallibility of the prophets, and recommendation of marriage are among the well-known Islamic teachings documented with numerous Qur’anic verses and the traditions approving their genuineness and reliability.

In the same field there exist traditions with the context of superiority of Yūnus (Jonah) and Yaḥyā (John) [to other prophets] that are not in line with these teachings.

The present study discusses about these traditions from the aspects of typology of the texts, evaluation of the resources, and being in contradiction with Islamic teachings, and tactics and finding methods to remove that contradiction; and presents a new tactic for their understanding and criticism. The results of this study showed that the contradiction among these traditions originates from certain premises, as well as application of a particular approach in explaining the concept, and lack of historical approach in understanding the circumstance in which the traditions were issued. Relying on the principle of standard text, semantics based on independent reasoning, and applying a historical approach, the new tactic presents a new explanation consistent with the likely circumstance in which the traditions were issued and removes the claimed contradiction of them in the light of Islamic teachings.

Keywords: superiority of the prophets (to one another), contradiction among traditions, superiority of Yūnus (Jonah) and Yaḥyā (John) [to one another], removal of contradiction.

******

Page From 199