Qoran Shenakht

Quranic exegesis (tafsīr) is among the prevalent disciplines in the Qom Seminary, which has undergone developments since its reestablishment at the beginning of the fourteenth century AH (Solar Hijri) up to the present. This article, employing a descriptive-analytical method, examines the transformations of the discipline of exegesis in the Qom Seminary during the fourteenth century. The research findings indicate that the changes in the discipline of exegesis during the aforementioned period can be identified and analyzed in three distinct phases. In the first phase, we witness the emergence of exegeses following the style of previous works, in which no significant transformation is observed, except that the contents of earlier exegeses were revised and updated, occasionally with additional material. In the second phase, the Qom Seminary experienced transformations in exegetical method, style and type of thematic presentation, and the diversity and scope of subjects, culminating in the production of Tafsīr al-Mīzān. In the third phase, the evolution of the exegetical discipline accelerated; in addition to updated sequential (tartībī) exegeses, various thematic exegeses were produced, alongside concise exegeses presenting the teachings of the verses in condensed form for the purpose of acquainting the general public with the knowledge of the Quran.