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Qur'anic Verses and Selected Scientific Concepts: A Comparative Interpretive Study

Keywords

Abstract

The relationship between the Qur’ān and modern science has long attracted scholarly attention. Scientific exegesis has emerged by interpreting Qur’ānic verses alongside empirical findings in fields like cosmology, embryology, oceanography, geology, atmospheric science, and biology. Yet, most studies emphasize these parallels as evidence that the Qur’ān confirms specific scientific principles, often overlooking the historical context of the verses, the interpretive approaches of both classical and modern exegetes, and their understanding of the texts. Moreover, there has been limited theoretical exploration regarding the nature of these correspondences. This study seeks to fill this gap by analyzing selected Qur’ānic verses through both classical and modern tafsīr in relation to contemporary scientific knowledge. It also investigates the limitations of drawing connections between Qur’ānic interpretation and scientific understanding. Employing a qualitative, comparative, and interpretive methodology, the study focuses on how the interpretation of selected verses has evolved from classical to modern exegesis. The findings indicate that many perceived correspondences are largely the result of modern exegetical perspectives rather than meanings firmly rooted in earlier traditions. Thus, these connections are more accurately described as “exegetical alignments” than as anticipations of modern scientific discoveries. Ultimately, the study offers a comparative and interpretive analysis of selected Qur’ānic verses and underscores the importance of methodological rigor and interpretive caution when exploring the relationship between the Qur’ān and contemporary scientific knowledge.

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