1
Department of Quranic Sciences and Fiqh, Faculty of Theology and Islamic Studies, Shiraz University
2
Faculty of Theology and Islamic Studies, Shiraz University
10.22034/jqopv.2025.10332
Abstract
In his book, "The Quran and Its Biblical Subtext," Gabriel Reynolds challenges the understanding of the Quran based on medieval interpretations, all of which are based on the biography of the Prophet (PBUH). In stating his reasons for opposing this approach, he points out the doubts of a number of Western scholars about the authenticity of the biography, and argues that the text of the Quran itself is never intended to be structured based on the life experiences of an individual. Contrary to the belief of most Quran scholars that the details of the life of Muhammad (PBUH) will be a source for unraveling semantic knots in the analysis of the Quran, it is observed that despite recording many details of the biography of the Prophet (PBUH), interpretations sometimes face difficulties even in understanding the literal meaning of words and verses. Reynolds considers Islamic interpretations to be post-Quranic texts and products of later centuries, whose content has deviated from the text of the Quran. And based on the gap between Muslim commentators and the text of the Quran, it is concluded that Islamic interpretations cannot be referred to in order to understand the Quran. The present study, in order to critically analyze Gabriel Reynolds's view, uses a descriptive-analytical method and a critical approach to explain and criticize Reynolds's views. The results of the study show that Islamic commentators did not seek to limit the meaning of the verses to the Prophet, and their reference to the seerah was a reference to the context of the situation in order to better understand the verses. In addition, in Islamic interpretations, not only is the reference to the seerah not considered the only way to understand the verses, but it is only used as one of the tools of understanding; therefore, the failure to understand some words or phrases cannot be attributed only to the ineffectiveness of the role of the seerah, but all factors must be examined together.
Tanafard, S. and Ghasemnejad, Z. (2025). Criticism of "Understanding the Quran in the Light of the Prophetic Tradition" in the Opinions of Gabriel Reynolds. The Qur’an from Orientalists Point of View, (), 1-24. doi: 10.22034/jqopv.2025.10332
MLA
Tanafard, S. , and Ghasemnejad, Z. . "Criticism of "Understanding the Quran in the Light of the Prophetic Tradition" in the Opinions of Gabriel Reynolds", The Qur’an from Orientalists Point of View, , , 2025, 1-24. doi: 10.22034/jqopv.2025.10332
HARVARD
Tanafard, S., Ghasemnejad, Z. (2025). 'Criticism of "Understanding the Quran in the Light of the Prophetic Tradition" in the Opinions of Gabriel Reynolds', The Qur’an from Orientalists Point of View, (), pp. 1-24. doi: 10.22034/jqopv.2025.10332
CHICAGO
S. Tanafard and Z. Ghasemnejad, "Criticism of "Understanding the Quran in the Light of the Prophetic Tradition" in the Opinions of Gabriel Reynolds," The Qur’an from Orientalists Point of View, (2025): 1-24, doi: 10.22034/jqopv.2025.10332
VANCOUVER
Tanafard, S., Ghasemnejad, Z. Criticism of "Understanding the Quran in the Light of the Prophetic Tradition" in the Opinions of Gabriel Reynolds. The Qur’an from Orientalists Point of View, 2025; (): 1-24. doi: 10.22034/jqopv.2025.10332
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