Critical Trends in Qur’anic Exegetical Criticism: A Comparative Study of Al-Tibyān and Biḥār al-Anwār in Light of the Qur’anic Sciences

Abstract

The present study examines exegetical criticism within the Islamic intellectual heritage, emphasizing the efforts of Qur’anic commentators in evaluating interpretive opinions and discussing diverse exegetical views. It focuses on selecting interpretations grounded in linguistic, legal, and rational evidence. The study aims to clarify the concept of exegetical criticism, uncover its methodological foundations, and explain its most prominent instruments, including the criticism of transmitted reports, the examination of occasions of revelation (asbāb al-nuzūl), abrogation (naskh), linguistic indications, and theological and juridical opinions related to Qur’anic interpretation, all of which scholars have employed in addressing exegetical issues. It also seeks to investigate practical examples from major works of Qur’anic exegesis, particularly Al-Tibyān by Shaykh al-Ṭūsī, as an outstanding model for the application of the critical method in Qur’anic interpretation. The study concludes that exegetical criticism has contributed significantly to the scholarly enrichment of Qur’anic studies, strengthened thematic understanding of the Qur’an, and reduced the influence of weak or inadequately substantiated interpretations.