Islamic Studies and Quranic Research in the Contemporary World

Islamic Studies and Quranic Research in the Contemporary World

Exploring the Possibilities of Comparative Theology in Addressing Lexical Challenges in Interpreting Verses on Women in the Quran and the Bible

Document Type : Original Article

Author
PhD student in religious studies, Qom University of Religions and Religions, Qom, Iran.
Abstract
This paper delves into the concept of revelation, its linguistic expression, and the impact of its interpretation on religious texts, particularly in relation to verses concerning women in the Quran and the Bible. It examines how, in the modern era, the language of sacred texts has become problematic for both interpretation and the institution of religion. In response to these challenges, liberal, liberation, and feminist theologies emerged to preserve Christian faith in the Bible while upholding human well-being. These theologies, emphasizing modern values of reason, science, and ethics, have advocated for non-literal approaches to understanding and interpreting texts. Modern shifts in worldview have also impacted Muslims and their understanding of the Quran, leading to new and contemporary interpretive efforts. Muslim reformers have sought to offer a fresh interpretation of revelation and Quranic language that preserves the Quran's universal message while addressing its lexical challenges. The idea of "hermeneutics of suspicion" among Christian feminists, including the concept of a "canon within the canon," has been employed in interpreting the Bible and resolving conflicts related to women. By identifying patriarchal underpinnings in the language of the text and its interpretation, these approaches emphasize the liberating aspects of the Bible, thereby navigating problematic language. Similarly, among Muslims, approaches such as Fazlur Rahman's two-movement theory have informed the work of Muslim feminists. Historical contextualization, intra-textual methods, and the Tawhidic paradigm have been employed to address lexical challenges in the Quran. While Muslim feminists have endeavored to engage with the text and separate it from patriarchal interpretations, they cannot abandon the search for the text's original intent. Their efforts have focused on presenting the Quran as an egalitarian text, yet, upon encountering problematic language in certain verses, they have reached impasses. By highlighting Tawhid and social justice as the Quran's core messages, they have implicitly sought to minimize other aspects of the Quran to overcome these challenges, a strategy not dissimilar to the Christian idea of a canon within a canon. Given the possibilities of comparative theology, it can be argued that the idea of a canon within a canon, which has been implicitly employed among Muslims for Quranic interpretation, merits further and more serious examination and consideration by Muslims. 
Keywords

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Volume 2, Issue 2 - Serial Number 4
September 2023
Pages 99-125

  • Receive Date 02 June 2023
  • Revise Date 02 July 2023
  • Accept Date 08 August 2023
  • First Publish Date 16 September 2023
  • Publish Date 16 September 2023