A Comparative Study of the Interpretation of "Promise Verse" (XXIV, 55) from the Perspetive of Shiite and Sunni Exegetes (with special focus on knowing the promised people)

Sunni and Shiite schools have different views concerning the meaning of the verse of promise (xxiv, 55) and signification of the promised people. There is no argument for either school to deny the application of the promied people in this verse to Imam Mahdi and his companions at least as one of the extentions or instances in view of the generality of the wording in the verse. Taking an analytical and critical method, this study has concluded that this verse exclusively applies to the age of reappearance. The arguments behind this claim are as follows: unconditionality of the expressions in the verse particularly "complete establishment of the religion" and "guarantee of an all out security", the traditions of both schools, and the link between this verse and that of the domination of religion(IX,33).