The Tabari’s Tafsir to Surah “Al-Fātiḥa”. Translation from Arabic and Comments. Part 4: Ayyats 6–7

Abstract

This article concludes a series of publications of the commented translation into Russian of the interpretation to the Surah “al-Fatiha” (No. 1) by the founder of classical Muslim exegesis Muḥammad ibn Jarīr aṭ-Ṭabari (839–923) from the book “Jāmi‘ al-bayān fī ta’wīl al-Qur’ān” (The Comprehensive Exposition of the interpretation of the Qur’ān). This part contains sections devoted to ayats 6–7 of this surah. Based on examples of pre- and early Islamic literature grammatical questions about the case of the word ghayr and the need for the use of the particle lā in these ayats are analyzed here in detail. The Tafsir to this verses also treats the theological problems related to the nature of God’s benefactions and His wrath, continues the controversy with the Qadarites regarding determinism and free will. There are also given here traditions ascribed to the Prophet Muhammad and the “ancient fathers of the Ummah” on the interpretation of these ayats. The conclusion speaks about the inimitability of the Qur’ān on the example of the surah “al-Fatiha”.