Comparison of Quranic Exegesis Methodology from the Perspective of Commentators and Orientalists with a Linguistic Approach

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Corresponding Author, Associate Professor, Department of Quranic Sciences and Hadith, Farabi Campus, University of Tehran, Qom, Iran

10.22034/jqopv.2025.16792.1345

Abstract

One of the main sources of divergence between indigenous and Orientalist perspectives lies in the domain of text interpretation and its linguistic dimensions. This article focuses on the fundamental question: What are the proper criteria for referencing religious texts - especially the Qur'an - in order to avoid discrepancies between indigenous and Orientalist research outcomes? Referencing and reasoning based on religious texts, if done without clarification on one hand and without considering textual validity tests on the other, may turn these texts into fragile fault lines reflecting divergent viewpoints, rather than enhancing their interpretive effectiveness. An analysis of how Qur'anic verses are cited reveals several key methodological distinctions: interpretation-centered vs. interpretation-averse approaches, interrogative-reflective vs. historically adhesive language, historical-developmental level separation, purposive vs. fragmentary understanding, and intertextual vs. metatextual interaction models. These elements collectively distinguish indigenous and Orientalist approaches to Qur'anic exegesis.

Keywords


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