كتاب مقدس و جايگاه آن در مناظرات امام رضا عليه السلام

The Scripture and its Status in Imam Rezaʹs Debates

Imam is Godʹs proof and the most knowledgeable person. His knowledge encompasses Quran and Sunnah and other revealed books as well. Among noticeable examples of this, mention may be made of Imam Rezaʹs arguments based on the Torah, the Bible and the Psalms in his debates with the scholars from the People of the Book. Those items from the Scripture cited by Imam Reza on some issues are divided into several groups regarding their accordance with the extant copies of the scripture and indicating his claims: some are quite clear and illustrative and are found in the extant copies of the Scripture; some others contain general conceptions but prove Imamʹs claims in view of the available evidences. Another group is symbolic in its language and implies Imamʹs claims only through his own explanations. Some are not found in Persian and Arabic translations. Still another group has not been adduced to in the scriptural texts, but has been narrated m detail in the Old and New Testaments and in Quran. This article reviews some instances of the above-mentioned passages in Persian and Arabic copies of the Old and New Testaments.