The Duality of Method and Horizon in Contemporary Kurdish Qur’anic Exegesis: A Comparative Study of Theological, Jurisprudential, and Linguistic Foundations in the Works of Modarres and Abdulaziz

Abstract

The present study aims to provide a comparative analysis of the exegetical approaches of two contemporary Sunni Kurdish commentators, Abdulkarim Modarres (1905–2005), author of Mawahib al-Rahman, and Osman Abdulaziz (1922–1999), author of Tafsiri Qurani Piroz. Although both exegetes shared common geographical, cultural, and jurisprudential backgrounds as adherents of the Shafi‘i school, their exegetical methodologies exhibit significant divergences. The study adopts an analytical-comparative method based on library research and focuses primarily on comparing their scholarly biographies, theological-jurisprudential orientations, and the structural organization of their commentaries. The findings indicate that Modarres, by composing his commentary in Arabic, adopted a universalist and ummah-oriented intellectual horizon and, through a specialized introduction to Qur’anic sciences, addressed an academic and scholarly readership. In contrast, Abdulaziz, by writing his commentary in Kurdish, pursued a localized cultural and guidance-oriented concern and, through a simpler approach, targeted the broader Kurdish-speaking community. In interpreting theological verses, Modarres demonstrated a firm commitment to the Ash‘arite school by explicitly defending the views of later Ash‘arite theologians. Abdulaziz, however, adopted a more Salafi-oriented and cautious stance and avoided explicit Ash‘arite theological positioning. Although both exegetes belonged to the Shafi‘i school, Modarres emphasized detailed argumentation within the formal framework of Shafi‘i jurisprudence. Abdulaziz, by contrast, displayed greater flexibility and independent reasoning (ijtihad) and, in certain instances, considered the opinions of jurists outside the Shafi‘i school.