Hermeneutics of the Qur'anic Text - Stories of the Prophets as a Model

Abstract

This study examines the Qur'anic text, specifically prophetic narratives, from a hermeneutical perspective. The study approaches these prophetic narratives symbolically and metaphorically, on the premise that the conflict between the prophets and their peoples was a cognitive one; each party represented a different cognitive standpoint. While the prophet represented awareness and perception of divine laws, the other party—the prophet's people—was unaware of the reality of these divine laws. Prophetic narratives provide rich material for the application of the hermeneutical approach, which is one of the most prominent methodologies employed in studying sacred texts. The study concludes that a hermeneutical reading of the Qur'anic text can contribute to deepening comprehension and elucidating its latent meanings, provided that the specificity of the Holy Qur'an is respected as a sacred text with its own particular theological, linguistic, and exegetical reference frameworks. Furthermore, utilizing the hermeneutical approach does not imply a rupture with the traditional Islamic exegetical heritage; rather, it can serve as a means to enrich the process of understanding and rediscover the dimensions of the text in light of a changing reality and contemporary questions. The study also reveals that divine laws are based on change, renewal, and fluidity, and that stagnation and adherence to literal, outward meanings constitute the source of evil and deviation from the divine path.