The Evolution of Qurʾanic Exegetes’ Views on Verses Related to the Trinity

Abstract

The doctrine of the Trinity, which constitutes one of the most prominent beliefs of Christianity and through which Christians have transformed monotheism into Trinitarian monotheism, is among the important issues addressed by Qurʾanic exegetes across different historical periods. However, an examination of Qurʾanic commentaries from the third century onward reveals discernible changes and developments in exegetical views. Accordingly, the central problem of this study concerns the domains, subjects, and forms in which this evolution of exegetical opinions has occurred. The purpose of this article, written using a descriptive–analytical method, is to examine verse 171 of Sūrat al-Nisāʾ and verse 73 of Sūrat al-Māʾidah by drawing on early, middle, late, and contemporary Qurʾanic commentaries. This study traces the trajectory of exegetical developments regarding the doctrine of the Trinity and seeks to answer the research question raised with respect to the selected verses. The findings derived from consulting the commentaries—predominantly theological in nature and less frequently found in narrative exegesis—indicate that early and middle exegetes largely confined themselves to expanding upon and explicating the verses. By contrast, late and contemporary exegetes, through recourse to Christian religious sources and engagement in polemical debate with Christian scholars, have articulated more comprehensive explanations and viewpoints concerning these doctrinal deviations.