Tarikh Islam

Ibn Abi Al-Hadid Al- Mu‘tazili is considered as the most famous commentator of Nahjol Balaghāh and his book as one of the most outstanding commentaries. The important feature of his book is his proper understanding of Imam Ali's sayings. Proper understanding is also contingent upon the historicism of every component to which paid special attention to explain and interpret Imam Ali's sayings correctly. Among the best means which Ibn Abi-Al-Hadid used in order to interpret Imam Ali's sayings properly are: considering the geographical context of the sayings, stating the reason behind the sayings, and attempting to find the date the sayings. Furthermore, he was able to use context-based criticism (textual criticism), individuals' genealogy, others' citations, famous narrations and historical traditions in historicism of the different narrations. No doubt, the most important criticism about his commentary is the influence of theology and his sectarian attitude resulting from his religious fanaticism and enmity towards Shi'ism, and so, due to his Mu‘tazilite bias he has sometimes neglects historicism and his sectarian understanding takes priority over proper understanding.