Quran, 15:79: “So we took vengeance on them; And verily, the two (cities) are on a Clear Road (Imaamin Mubin).”
It is rather self-evident that the word “imam” here means a road or highway in the context that it is used. The word is used to denote an inanimate object that is followed and not a human; there is no way a person could say that this verse refers to a divinely appointed human. No scholar, neither from the Ahlus Sunnah nor the Shia, has ever claimed that this verse refers to a person. A brief look at the Tafseer of the Ahlus Sunnah and the Shia will reveal this fact.
- Ahlus Sunnah Tafseer of Verse 15:79
In the Al-Qurtubi Tafseer, the only view put forward is that the “Imaamin Mubin” refers to a road that is clear in and of itself, the road being in the way of the Cities of Lut (عليه السلام)and the People of Aikah (i.e. the people to whom Shuaib [عليه السلام] was sent). The Tafseer mentions that it serves as a reminder and warning to all those who pass through it. Ibn Kathir gives a similar view, quoting (among others) Ibn Abbas. According to Ibn Kathir, this is the reason why Shuaib (عليه السلام) when warning his people, said: “nor are the people of Lut (عليه السلام) far off from you!” (Quran 11:89). We again see a similar opinion from Tafseer at-Tabari, and other Tafseer echo the same general line of thinking with respect to the meaning of this verse.
- Shia Tafseer of Verse 15:79
A look into the Shia Tafseers will show that Shia commentators also did not view verse 15:79 as a “proof” for Imamah.
For example, in the Tafseer Al-Safi, Allamah Kashani says that the “Imaamin Mubin” refers to a Clear Road that is followed and leads (i.e. leads the people during their journeys). (Tafseer Al-Safi, Volume 3, p.119)
Similarly, in Majma-ul-Bayan, a number of views are presented. The first two views are similar to the view expressed by Qurtubi, that the Cities of Lut (عليه السلام) and the Aikah were on a clear road that was followed by the people (and that this is why it was named as “imam”). In addition to this, another possibility is presented, namely that their cities (or the stories surrounding those cities) has been preserved in the Lauhul-Mahfudh, the Great Book in which Allah has recorded all happenings of the World until the Day of Judgement. As a similar example, Verse 36:12 is presented, where Allah says: “and of all things have We taken account in a clear Book (of evidence).” (Tafseer Majma ul Bayan, Volume 6, p. 127)
Also, the Al-Mizan commentary by Allamah Tabatabai gives a similar assessment with respect to the meaning of the word “imam” in this particular case, saying that the “imam” refers to a clear path or road on which the peoples of Lut (عليه السلام) and Shuaib (عليه السلام) used to reside. (Tafseer Al Mizan, Volume 12, p. 185)
Thus, with respect to verse 15:79, it can be concluded that the term “Imaamin Mubin” does not advance the Shia concept of Imamah in the least, as can be deduced from going through the Ahlus Sunnah and Shia commentaries with respect to this Verse.
Common sense itself demands that verse 15:79 refers to a road and not a human being. In this verse, Allah says that the two cities lie on it; do we mean to say that there are two cities which both reside on top of a divinely appointed human being? Does this even make logical sense? Surely it does not, and such an interpretation would render the Quran meaningless. The only proper translation of this verse would be that the two cities lie on a clear road.
Indeed, it could only be Shia youth and lay-persons arguing over the internet that could ever advance such a preposterous idea that this verse refers to the Infallible Imamah.
The article was excerpted, with minor editions, from “Imaamah and the Quran: An Objective Perspective”, authored by Abu Salih. This book is endorsed by the Ahlel Bayt website and can be downloaded here.
