The Right Method of Thinking from the Viewpoint of the Qur'an

 Mohammad Reza Mohammadalizadeh / Faculty Member at IKI

Hamid Arian / Associate Professor at Quranic Sciences, IKI

Received: 2017/07/19 - Acceopted: 2018/02/07

Abstract

The Holy Qur'an in many respects calls people into thinking, but to what extent has he shown him the right method of thinking? Using a descriptive-analytical method this paper seeks to answer this question. Some believe that, the holy Qur'an has merely stated the barriers to thinking. Others believe that the holy Qur'an has referred human beings to his natural logic. This research shows that not only the holy Qur'an expresses the barriers to thinking, but also it exposes the rules of thinking and reasoning, and defines them in terms of form and matter. In the same vein, the holy Quran has explicitly or implicitly confirmed some of the methods of thinking such as wisdom, good exhortation, and, likewise, it has denied other methods such as imagination and fallacies. The right method of thinking can understood from the persuasive proofs and methods of the Qur'an, and its negative position toward the imagination and fallacious method and their means.

Key words: thinking, the right method of thinking, method of wisdom, method of good exhortation, method of contention, method of imagination, method of fallacy.

Nasr Abu Zayd 's Symbolic Interpretation in Comparison to the Mu'tazilite Symbolic Interpretation Approach

 Hasan Zarnoshe Farahani / Assistant Professor of the Department of Islamic Sciences, Shahid Rajaee Teacher Training University

Zahra Kashaniha / Associate Professor of the Department of Islamic Sciences, Shahid Rajaee Teacher Training University

Hamid Imandar / Assistant Professor of the Department of the Qur'an and Hadith Sciences, Shiraz University                          hamidimandar@yahoo.com

Received: 2017/08/05 - Acceopted: 2018/02/22

Abstract

 The most important common principles of interpretation between the Mu'tazilite and the neo-Mu'tazilahi school is symbolic interpretation, which brings to mind their proximity, but paying attention to its function, in terms of each group, eliminates their proximity. Using a descriptive-analytical method, this paper studies the Mu'tazilite symbolic interpretation and Nasr Abu Zayd's symbolic interpretation viewpoint, as a well-known neo-Mu'tazilahi scholar, with a comparative approach. The research findings show that the Mu'tazilites symbolically interpret the appearance of verses, with exact theological and ideological basis, whenever they consider a certain verse in contrast with their rational foundations and five principles, particularly in terms of the purification of the divine essence. But, Nasr Abu Zayd uses the symbolic interpretation merely to prove the historicity of the Qur'an, and the basis for adapting its concepts to modernity by relying on different foundations with the Mu'tazilites, and ignoring their concerns about the purification of the divine essence.

Keyword: symbolic interpretation, Mu'tazilite, Nasr Abu Zayd, historicity of the Qur'an.

Critique of Hermeneutic Thought of Mujtahid Shabestari, with Adaptation to Philosophical Hermeneutics

 Mahmoud Shokohitbar / Ph.D. in Qur'an and Hadith Sciences, Research Institute of Hawzah and University

Mahmoud Rajabi / Professor, IKI

Received: 2017/08/18 - Acceopted: 2018/02/16

Abstract

Mujtahid Shabestari regards the interpretation of scriptures as subject to the hermeneutic general rule i.e. an understanding based on the logic of question and answer. He believes that, this question and answer are based on the interpreter's pre-knowledge, interests and expectations and the process of understanding is based on a hermeneutic circle, which all of them correspond to the basic bases of the theory of philosophical hermeneutics. Using a descriptive- analytical method the paper studies the hermeneutic thoughts of Shabestari and philosophical hermeneutics with a comparative perspective. The research findings show that, the hermeneutic thought of Mujtahid Shabestari, has an incoherence and internal contradiction, due to the combination of fundamental philosophical and principled analysis of hermeneutics, such as intentionalism, seeking the text's meaning in the historical context, necessity of refining the pre-knowledge and separating valid understanding from an invalid understanding. Also, the hermeneutic thought of Shabestari, which is in line with philosophical hermeneutics, has been criticized.

Key words: Shabestari, hermeneutics, philosophical hermeneutics, text Interpretation, pre-assumption, text comprehension.

Reviewing and criticizing the Approach of EQ in the Narrations of Collection of the Qur'an

Ali Khorasani / Faculty Member at Islamic Sciences and Culture Academy

Received: 2017/07/05 - Acceopted: 2018/01/01

Abstract

Leiden Encyclopedia of the Qur'an (EQ) is one of the most famous Western Quranic researches in recent centuries, which can be criticized in terms of form and content, such as lack of comprehensive articles, lack of comprehensive understanding, lack of valid sources, misunderstandings of some Quranic verses and particularly creating doubt in the revelatory nature of the Qur'an. This issue is so incredible that, any flaw in this matter distorts the basis of Islam and the mission of the Prophet (P.B.U.H.). This paper seeks to criticize the related article in EQ by reviewing and comparing the narrations of collection of the Qur'an in traditional sources as well as the EQ ones, which attempts to create a doubt about the authenticity and the revelatory nature of the Qur'an, by denying the canonical order of the Quranic verses and chapters, and recording of the Qur'an at the Prophet (P.B.U.H.)'s era. Utilizing rational arguments, historical evidence and traditional proofs, this paper proves the compilation of the holy Qur'an at the Prophet (P.B.U.H.)'s era.

Key words: holy Qur'an, compilation of the Qur'an, Leiden Encyclopedia of Qur'an (EQ), Orientalist.

An Analysis of the Shiite Imams' Periods of Interpretation from the Prophet's Demise to Imam Baqir (P.B.U.T.)' era

Seyyed Mohsen Kazemi / Ph.D. in Interpretation and Quranic Science, Dar al-Hadith Institute

Received: 2017/06/02 - Acceopted: 2017/12/16

Abstract

After the demise of the Prophet (P.B.U.H.), the government prohibited quoting, writing and compiling prophetic traditions by issuing a circular, until it was formally abolished in the era of Imam Baqir (P.B.U.H.). Facing this phenomenon, the Sunni interpretation flow, while refraining from compiling or transcribing prophetic traditions, they followed eisegesis (tafsīr bir-raʾy), the personal judgments about the verses of the Qur'an, and isra'iliyyat, the body of narratives originating from Jewish and Christian traditions, rather than from other well-accepted Islamic sources. At the same time, the Ahl al-Bayt (P.B.U.T.) started fighting anti-traditionalism and heresy according to the requirements of their time. Confronting the Jihadi tradition of the Imams (P.B.U.T.) with the heresies of the time, led to the formation of a series of interpretative periods in the history of interpretation, which includes the movement of interpretation in Imam Ali (P.B.U.H.)'s era, the interpretational repression in Hasanayn (P.B.U.T.)'s era, the revival of interpretation in Imam Sajjad (P.B.U.H.)'s era, and its depth and promotion in Imam Baqir (P.B.U.H.)'s era.

Key words: Imami's history of interpretation, courses of interpretation, prohibition of collecting tradition, Isra'iliyyat, forging tradition.

A Critique of the Territory of the Guardianship, based on the Qur'anic Concept of Great Sovereignty

 Seyyed Mohammad Hasan Saleh / Ph.D. in Religions and Mysticism

Mohammad Jafari / Assistant Professor, IKI

Received: 2017/05/22 - Acceopted: 2018/01/07

Abstract

Proving the virtues of the Ahl al-Bayt (P.B.U.T.) from the viewpoint of the Qur'an, as the common and sacred text for all Muslims, has always been considered by the Shi'a scholars. On the other hand, one of the most significant dimensions of Imamate is the status of genetic guardianship, which itself has various interpretations and divisions. Arguing the verse 4:54, some contemporaries have tried to relate and interpret the concept of great sovereignty to the power of the genetic influence and demonstrator of the genetic guardianship of the Ahl al-Bayt (P.B.U.T.) in its highest level that is, directing and mastership of the whole world. The author, while refuting this argument, believes that, such a meaning cannot be understood from the verse, though it is considered a virtue of the Ahl al-Bayt (P.B.U.T.).

Key words: great sovereignty, guardianship, genetic guardianship, Imamate, generation.