An Inquiry into the Narrations of the Two Branches of Faith about the Verse "Therefore pray to your Lord and make a sacrifice

The exegetes of the two branches of faith have offered different opinions about the manifestation and meaning the term "salli" (pray) and "inhar" (make a sacrifice) in the verse "fa salli li rabbika wanhar". The opinions of Shia scholars about the meaning of "salli" can be reconciled with one another, though they look to be different apparently. However, Sunni exegetes have narrated irreconcilable, discrepant and contrasting meanings and opinions about the said word. Their views are also opposed to the narrations about the occasion in which the verse had been revealed. They also run counter to the principle of presenting the hadith to and comparing it with the Quran and the context of the verses. Most of the discussions that have taken place in regard to the interpretation of this verse are irrelevant and has been mistaken for some other concepts. It is inferred from various contexts that the manifestation of "salli" in the time of the revelation of this verse had been a "thanksgiving prayer" (namaz-e shukr). Any other manifestation that may be backed up by any convincing argument or proof is considered a kind of imposition of an opinion on the Quran. In Shia commentary works, such an opinion has found its way from the Sunni sources. When it comes to the meaning of "inhar", the exegetes of the two branches of faith have given contrasting opinions. The acceptable meaning for "inhar" is to make a sacrifice of a camel as insisted by some exegetes of the two schools of jurisprudence, and this can be evaluated in line with the Qur'an's confrontation with the ignorant Arab culture. Because they slaughtered a camel on the birth of a male child while the Quran asks the Prophet of Islam to sacrifice a camel on the birth of his daughter so as to nullify the discriminating cultures of the Arabs.