Quranic Explanation - Narration of the Concept of Ḥaraj and Its Relationship with the Mission of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) In the Light of the Second Verse of Surah al-Aʿrāf

Document Type : Research Article

Authors
Mohsen Fazel Bakhshayesh 1
mohammad hadi mansouri 2
1 PhD student in the Quran and Hadith Teaching, Islamic Studies University, Qom, Iran.
2 Assistant Professor, Department of Quran and Hadith Sciences, Islamic Studies University, Qom, Iran.
10.30497/qhs.2025.247741.4092
Abstract
In the Holy Quran, the contradictory concepts of narrowness of the heart (Ḍayq Ṣadr) and the explanation of the heart (Sharḥ Ṣadr) have been attributed to the Holy Prophet (PBUH); a phenomenon that at first glance conflicts with the high status of prophethood and the status of his infallibility. In the interpretations, the causes of the narrowness of the heart of the Prophet (PBUH) have been explained with multiple and sometimes conflicting opinions, ranging from the pressure of the infidels and the harassment of the polytheists to the inner suffering of the nation's misguidance. In addition to revealing the complexity of the issue, this reveals the lack of definitive documentation and the need to revise the analysis of this issue. The present study, using the descriptive-analytical method and combining the two approaches of interpreting the Quran with the Quran and narrative interpretation, critically analyzes the views of the commentators and, citing intratextual evidence and the narrations of the Ahl al-Bayt (PBUH), presents a new explanation of the nature of the narrowness of the heart. The findings of this study indicate that the distress of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) was not the result of external failure, but rather stemmed from his deep concern for the continuity of the flow of divine guidance after him and his concern about accepting the guardianship of the Commander of the Faithful (PBUH) as the institution of the continuation of the mission. Accordingly, the distress of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) in the prophetic sphere is considered a manifestation of the historical responsibility of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) in laying the groundwork for the realization of the guardianship of the truth and preserving the unity of the Islamic nation. By revealing the connection between the distress of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and the issue of guardianship, this study offers a new perspective on its importance and consequences within the framework of the mission of the Holy Prophet (PBUH).
Keywords
Ḥaraj
Ḍayq Ṣadr
Messengership
Imamate
Surah al-A'raf
Unity of the Islamic Ummah
Subjects
The Holy Qurʾān.
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Quran and Hadith Studies‎
Volume 19, Issue 1 - Serial Number 37
September 2025
Pages 71-93