The Influence of Theological Presuppositions on Qur’anic Exegesis: A Case Study on the Semantic Domain of “Nearness to God”

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Associate Professor, Department of Qur’anic and Hadith Studies, Faculty of Humanities, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran .

2 Ph.D. Student, Department of Qur’anic and Hadith Studies, Faculty of Humanities, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

Among the influential factors shaping exegetes’ engagement with Qur’anic verses—especially those related to divine attributes—are their theological presuppositions. This study aims to examine, through a comparative approach, the impact of theological perspectives on the interpretation of the Qur’an by analyzing the understanding of prominent exegetes from various interpretive schools regarding the vocabulary within the semantic field of “Being with God” (inda Allāh) in the Qur’an. Employing a descriptive-analytical method, the research investigates key tafsīr works from both Sunni and Shiʿi traditions across different historical periods. The findings indicate that exegetes’ theological orientations play a decisive role in their conceptual explanation of Qur’anic terms. Those who emphasize the transcendence (tanzīh) of God from corporeal attributes tend toward allegorical (taʾwīlī) interpretations, whereas others, focusing on the literal expression of the text, present more sensory-oriented understandings. With regard to the vocabulary of “Being with God,” while most exegetes agree on negating spatiality and emphasize a conceptual proximity, a wide range of interpretations exists—from literalist Salafi readings without recourse to taʾwīl, to philosophical interpretations grounded in ontological gradation (tashkīk) and even the unity of existence (waḥdat al-wujūd). This spectrum highlights the profound influence of theological presuppositions on the hermeneutical process.

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