Al-Taʾṣīl Wa Al-Tajrīd Li-Qawāʿid Al-Tafsīr: Dirāsah Naqdiyyah

Abstract

This research critically examines the uncontrolled expansion in the use of the term "principles of Quranic exegesis (qawāʿid al-tafsīr)" in contemporary literature and seeks to establish precise methodological controls for formulating these principles according to objective scientific foundations. The study aims to preserve the accurate definition and boundaries of exegetical principles, ensuring they are systematic, well-regulated, and closely tied to elucidating the meanings of the Quran. The researcher analyzed three of the most prominent works on the principles of exegesis and selected six exemplary principles to apply the proposed controls in a practical manner. The study employed three scientific methodologies: the inductive approach for analyzing Quranic texts, the descriptive approach for surveying the current state of exegetical principles in contemporary works, and the analytical approach for evaluating and critiquing these principles. The research yielded several key findings, including: many principles attributed to exegesis lack scientific and methodological precision; the confusion between exegetical principles and those of other disciplines (such as Islamic jurisprudence and linguistics) has weakened the scholarly structure of these principles; and there is a critical need for meticulous examination of Quranic texts to regulate exegetical principles properly. The study also affirmed that authentic exegetical principles are those directly linked to understanding and explaining the meanings of the Quran.