The Influence of Systematic Theological Elements on Qur’anic Interpretation
This study examines the epistemological and sociological risks arising from the conceptualization of “Divine Word”— a central argument of the Theo-centric approach in systematic theology— as a dynamic and flexible semantic field under the pretext of the ambiguity of Divine Will. It is ob- served that such flexibility leads not only to logical inconsistencies but also to the justification of human rights violations through the manipulation of sacred texts, resulting in grave global repercussions. The primary objective of this work is to provide a theoretical foundation for the necessity and feasibility of an academic exegetical (tafsir) methodology as an antidote to such subjective interpretations. In this framework, the relationship be- tween systematic theology and Qur’anic exegesis is analyzed through the sociological functions of the concepts of dirayah (rational inference) and ta’wil (allegorical interpretation).
By accepting the elements of revelation and faith as axiomatic data, the study avoids the philosophical debates of the philosophy of religion. In- stead, it investigates the systematic theological influences on verses con- cerning individual creed and public law through the lens of historical di- alectic processes. The analysis concludes that the perceptions and cultural accumulation of the target society are decisive in the construction of the sacred text; therefore, an academic interpretation is only possible by identi- fying the text’s unique theological existence and its sociological positioning. Furthermore, the study theoretically discusses how interpretive activities centered on social perception and mental transformation constitute a pro- cess of context-based meaning construction, demonstrating the functional- ity of this approach through selected cases. Ultimately, the findings reveal the methodological impasses of attempting to derive legal rulings (istinbat) while bypassing the stage of “understanding,” thereby confirming the ur- gent need for a contemporary exegetical methodology aligned with current scientific paradigms.
Keywords: Systematic Theology; Quranic Exegesis; Ta’wil; Diraya; Divine Word; Intention of God.