A Critical Study of Invoking to the Apparent Meanings of the Quranic Verses in “Min Wahy al-Qur’an” exegesis

Abstract

"Min Wahy Al-Qur’an" is a contemporary Shiite exegesis. Mohammad Hosein Faḍlollah is an exegete who gives priority to the apparent meaning as one of his interpretive principles. He employs this principle at different occasions: Confirming a probable interpretation, criticizing and rejecting other commentators’ opinions or interpretive traditions. In addition to the apparent meaning, he often quotes Quranic, traditional and rational evidences to confirm his points. However, he abandons the apparent meaning whenever Quranic, traditional and rational evidence are in contradiction with it. Nonetheless, Faḍlollah's excessive reliance on this principle has led him to divergent views in some verses which is in conflict with exegetes’ famous views, especially that of the Shiites.

Keywords

• apparent meaning
• quranic apparent meanings
• min wahy al-qur’an
• allama faḍlollah