The Functions of the Principle, " Ta līq al-ḥukm  alā al-waṣf mush irun bi al- illiya"

According to the apparent denotation and conventional appearance of the verse 33 of Sūrat al-Aḥzāb (āyat al-taṭhīr), the interpreters of the caliphate school have, by negligence of other evidences, relied on the context of verses 28-34 of this Sūra for inclusion of the Prophet’s (S.A.W.) wives among the “Ahl al-Bayt”. In contrast, the Imamī scholars have generally ruled out the validity of the principle of context (siyāq) in these verses and by restricting the inclusion scope of the concept of Ahl al-Bayt, they have viewed its referent to be only the “Five Purified Ones” (Khamsa-yi Ṭayyiba). Upon critically reviewing the viewpoint of the two major sects (Shī‘a and Sunnī) concerning the validity or invalidity of context in the above verses, the present research presents a new working procedure with the help of the principle, “Ta‘līq al-ḥukm ‘alā al-waṣf mush‘irun bi al-‘illiya” (lit. meaning: suspension of precept upon description is cognizant of causality) in the format of the standard approach. According to this theory, the principled description, “O Wives of the Prophet!” (yā nisā’ al-Nabī) in the verses related to the wives in terms of the above-mentioned principle, has elucidated the climate of Revelation of the verses, which are based on the legal personality of the Noble Prophet of Islam (S.A.W.), and following that, indicated the general rule, which in itself is a causal inference to and an emphasis on the content of the verses related to the wives in the verse of taṭhīr. The findings of the research show that by preserving the exclusive referent of the verse concerning the purified Imams (A.S.), the principle of context in these verses is quite justifiable and does not entail any obstacle. Similarly, among other functions of this principle in the verse in question is that the inclusion of the referent of “Ahl al-Bayt” can be proven about other Infallibles, as well.