A Hermeneutic View toward the Qur'anic Verses in Naqd

Dr. Mohammadreza Movahhedi [1]

The major concern in the present article is to deal with the hermeneutic approach taken by Naqd toward the Qur'anic verses. In this article after a brief explanation about the difference between Tafsir (interpretation) and Ta'wil (hermeneutics), there will be a concise explanation about the use of the term "Ta'wil" and its various meanings in Naqd. Then, a number of outstanding samples of the hermeneutic clarification of the Qur'anic verses in Naqd are presented. The major part of the use of the Qur'anic verses in Naqd, after literal discussions (verbal, jurisprudential, historical, and …) is concerned with theological comparisons, and more significantly with hermeneutic implications. These hermeneutic references have been sometimes used to reject the accusations posed by the opponent, e.g. to reject that (وَ التّينِ وَ الزَّيْتُونِ) (By the fig and the olive [The Qur'an: Surah 95: 1]) refers to Ali and Fatimah PBUT; some other times, they have been applied to verify the author's beliefs. The study of some of the hermeneutic readings applied in Naqd reveals that, in comparison to the interpretive readings, they have been much more influential. In some cases, the hermeneutic implications trace back to accusations made by the opponents and their study could reveal the conditions out of which they have developed. Certainly, the identification of these gaps can prepare the ground for the pathology of the preliminary Islamic sects.

Key Words: hermeneutics of the Qur'an, theological thoughts, interpretation, the book of Naqd, 'Abd al-Jalil Razi.

[1] Faculty Member of Qom University