An Evaluation Model for the Dependency of Understanding Legal Verses on the Culture of the Quranic Revelation Era

Abstract

Various perspectives exist regarding the role of historical and cultural studies in understanding the Quran, particularly the legal verses. Scholars such as Nasr Hamed Abu Zayd and Mujtahid Shabestari argue that a proper understanding of these verses is rooted in the historical and cultural studies of the Quranic revelation era, emphasizing the need for cultural translation. On the contrary, Quranic scholars like Allameh Tabatabai and Ayatollah Jawadi Amoli believe that the Quran is self-sufficient and complete in its guidance. The aim of this research is to present a model that evaluates each legal verse as an input based on influential criteria in determining the dependency of understanding the verses on the cultural context of the Quranic revelation era. The output of the model categorizes the verse as either independent or dependent on cultural studies. Using a descriptive-analytical method, the perspectives and discussions of key researchers in this field were studied. The determining criteria were extracted, and the evaluation model was presented as a decision tree diagram, incorporating model elements and their relationships. The model provides the capability to assess the components governing legal verses, consisting of eight features or elements and four rules or relationships. Based on evaluating these eight features for the legal verse input, the model determines the output, indicating the dependency or independence of the verse on specialized cultural studies.

Keywords

• legal verses
• dependency of quranic understanding
• cultural context of revelation era