Analyzing and Criticizing Theological Assumptions in Interpreting Verses (Case Study: Verses regarding Leadership and the Virtues of Imam Ali (AA) in the Quran).

One of the most important issues to both sects is the discussion surounding the Ayahs suggesting the greatness and virtues of Imam Ali (AS). As the theological assumptions regarding leadership and guardianship are not the same in Shi’ism and Sunnism, the two sects do not view leadership in the same light. Therefore, the Farsi translations of these Ayahs are affected by theological assumptions. Of course, Sunni translators do not hold a unified opinion regarding this matter. Some of them have employed their own ideological assumptions in their translation. Some others have not implemented such assumptions while translating, and they have taken up a position of silence, preventing sectarial prejudices from being further stirred. The present study aims to refer to valid narratives and the opinions of the interpreters of the two sects about the Ayahs of the leadership and virtues of Imam Ali (AS) in order to study and analyse the most prominent Sunni (Dehlavi, Khorramdel, and Ansari) and Shi’a (Elahi Qamshei, Meshkini, and Makarem Shirazi) interpretive translations. Through this method, possible weaknesses and strengths can be revealed, and the effect of theological assumptions and prejudices in the translations of Sunni translatirs can be shown. Furthermore, through the principles of theology, we can examine whether Shi’a translations have been successful in conveyin the content of the Ayahs.