Excessive Use of Hermeneutics for Quran Interpretation Undermines All Principles
Interpreting the Holy Quran through mere Hermeneutics undermines all ideological schools and principles, leading to the negation of all essential truths.
Talking to IQNA, Mansour Pahlavan, professor of theology in Tehran University, said that despite the existence of some expressions in the Quran that inspire different interpretations among the clerics, the Holy Book includes certain essential facts on monotheism, prophethood and the resurrection.
He further elaborated on Imam Ali’s (AS) Hadith calling Ibn Abbas to discuss with Khawarej (those who parted from Imam’s followers) based on their tradition not the Holy Quran, adding that: “this is because the Quran has numerous aspects and meanings and is therefore open to different interpretations.”
“Another witness is Prophet Mohammad’s (PBUH) prophecy that his followers would be separated and divided to 70 sects of which only one will reach the eternal salvation.”
Differentiating between realistic and hermeneutic approaches in seeking truth, he noted: “The latter cannot be trusted, as it denies the existence of any essential, unshakable principles, and only acknowledges the reader—not the text—as the creator of ultimate meaning.”
“In our academic studies, and even in our daily life, we are looking for certain facts to learn and implement in research projects or practical fields.”
“We then tend to generalize the idea to reading the Scriptures, i.e. we seek to discover certain truths in them,” Mr. Pahlavan went on to say, noting that “the possibility of having different readings and interpretations of the Holy Quran or Hadiths does not imply that they are devoid of any truth and depend solely on our subjective interpretations.”
Referring to the verse “he looks upon his Lord” (75/23) as an example in the Quran, he said: “Some sects take the verse as a proof that they will be able to see God on Doomsday, while others cite another verse saying “No eye can see Him” (6/103) to prove that God cannot be seen either in this world or the Hereafter.”
“Regarding these two opposing arguments, we cannot conclude that God does not exist; however, we do believe that He is not visible with our physical eyes.”
“Excessively Using the hermeneutic approach to interpret the Holy Quran subverts all principles and schools of thought. On the other hand, believing in different possible interpretations is not opposed to the existence of any essential type of truth,” Mr. Pahlavan further noted.
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He further elaborated on Imam Ali’s (AS) Hadith calling Ibn Abbas to discuss with Khawarej (those who parted from Imam’s followers) based on their tradition not the Holy Quran, adding that: “this is because the Quran has numerous aspects and meanings and is therefore open to different interpretations.”
“Another witness is Prophet Mohammad’s (PBUH) prophecy that his followers would be separated and divided to 70 sects of which only one will reach the eternal salvation.”
Differentiating between realistic and hermeneutic approaches in seeking truth, he noted: “The latter cannot be trusted, as it denies the existence of any essential, unshakable principles, and only acknowledges the reader—not the text—as the creator of ultimate meaning.”
“In our academic studies, and even in our daily life, we are looking for certain facts to learn and implement in research projects or practical fields.”
“We then tend to generalize the idea to reading the Scriptures, i.e. we seek to discover certain truths in them,” Mr. Pahlavan went on to say, noting that “the possibility of having different readings and interpretations of the Holy Quran or Hadiths does not imply that they are devoid of any truth and depend solely on our subjective interpretations.”
Referring to the verse “he looks upon his Lord” (75/23) as an example in the Quran, he said: “Some sects take the verse as a proof that they will be able to see God on Doomsday, while others cite another verse saying “No eye can see Him” (6/103) to prove that God cannot be seen either in this world or the Hereafter.”
“Regarding these two opposing arguments, we cannot conclude that God does not exist; however, we do believe that He is not visible with our physical eyes.”
“Excessively Using the hermeneutic approach to interpret the Holy Quran subverts all principles and schools of thought. On the other hand, believing in different possible interpretations is not opposed to the existence of any essential type of truth,” Mr. Pahlavan further noted.
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