تفسیرِ قرآن میں سائنسی تعبیرات: کلاسیکی مفسرین اور معاصر رجحانات کا تقابلی مطالعہ

SCIENTIFIC INTERPRETATIONS IN QURANIC EXEGESIS: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF CLASSICAL AND CONTEMPORARY TRENDS

Abstract

This research paper presents a comprehensive and detailed comparative study of the scientific interpretations in Quranic exegesis, focusing on the intellectual trends of classical and contemporary commentators. The study begins with an in-depth analysis of the cosmological, physical, and astronomical insights found in the tafsir works of eminent scholars such as Imam Fakhr al-Din al-Razi, Allama al-Zamakhshari, and Allama al-Tabari. These classical scholars endeavored to understand and elucidate Quranic verses through rational and scientific perspectives, reflecting the intellectual and research-oriented mindset of their times.The paper further examines the scholarly contributions of early modern commentators including Tantawi Jawhari, Maulana Shibli Nomani, Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, and Dr. Abdul Wadud, who adopted scientific methodologies in Quranic interpretation to harmonize the relationship between the Quran and contemporary science. Moreover, the role of contemporary scholars such as Dr. Zaghloul El-Naggar and Dr. Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri is highlighted, emphasizing their pioneering research on the scientific miracles of the Quran.A detailed exposition of scientific interpretations of specific Quranic verses, such as the "contraction and expansion" (Big Bang theory), the expanding universe, the celestial origin of iron, and embryonic development, is provided to illustrate the interdisciplinary links between the Quran and modern scientific knowledge. The paper also contrasts the traditional narrational and rational approaches of classical tafsir with the modern intellectual trends in scientific exegesis, discussing its scholarly benefits and the critical objections raised against it. Within this framework, the limitations and potential misapplications of scientific interpretations are critically assessed through the lens of established principles of tafsir. Finally, the study highlights the impact of scientific tafsir on Islamic thought, its role in interfaith dialogue through scientific arguments, and its significance in Islamic missionary activities. It also explores the intellectual integration of scientific interpretation with modern hermeneutical principles. Overall, this research, grounded in authentic and authoritative references, offers a robust foundation for advancing academic inquiry and intellectual development in Quranic sciences.