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Exegesis and Quranic Sciences
Degree:
Master
Presentation Language: English
Exegesis and Quranic Sciences
Master’s Degree in Qur’anic Interpretation and Qur’anic Sciences
Program Overview
The Master’s Degree in Qur’anic Interpretation and Qur’anic Sciences is a specialized academic program in the field of Qur’anic studies. It is designed to deepen students’ knowledge and skills in Qur’anic Interpretation (Tafsir) and Qur’anic Sciences, and to prepare them for advanced study, analysis, and research in various fields related to the Holy Qur’an and its interpretation.
The program does not limit the study of Tafsir to a single methodological approach. Instead, students are introduced to a range of interpretive methodologies and approaches, including Qur’an-by-Qur’an interpretation, comparative tradition-based interpretation, rational interpretation, mystical/gnostic interpretation, literary interpretation, and chronological (revelational) interpretation. Through these subjects, students become familiar with the foundations, characteristics, and methodological procedures of each approach, while studying representative examples of relevant Qur’anic commentaries.
An important component of the program is the analytical and critical study of interpretive methodologies and trends. This includes literary and linguistic, mystical, jurisprudential, and interdisciplinary approaches to Tafsir, as well as some contemporary approaches such as chronological/revelational interpretation, structural interpretation, and contemplative interpretation.
The program also includes a significant component on Qur’anic Sciences and contemporary issues in the discipline of Tafsir. Students examine topics such as the language of the Qur’an, hermeneutics, the relationship between the Qur’an and the culture of its time, and contemporary theories concerning Qur’anic understanding and interpretation. These issues are studied and evaluated from the perspective of Qur’anic studies.
Other important areas include the Qur’an and Orientalists, trends in scientific interpretation of the Qur’an, thematic interpretation of theological verses, legal verses, and ethical verses. This diversity enables students to combine the study of the classical exegetical tradition with critical engagement with contemporary questions and approaches in Qur’anic interpretation.
Research training is another essential component of the program. Students develop skills in research methodology in Tafsir and Qur’anic Sciences, topic selection, identifying and evaluating sources, preparing research proposals, thematic interpretation, and academic writing. The final thesis provides students with an opportunity to apply their acquired knowledge and research skills to a specialized topic in Qur’anic Interpretation and Qur’anic Sciences.
Importance of the Program
The field of Qur’anic studies has continuously expanded, accompanied by increasing diversity in interpretive methodologies and trends, as well as the emergence of new questions concerning the understanding and interpretation of the Qur’an. There is consequently a growing need for specialists and researchers who are capable of studying and analyzing the classical exegetical heritage while also engaging critically with contemporary approaches and issues.
Understanding different interpretive methodologies, examining their foundations and procedures, evaluating their strengths and limitations, and addressing new questions concerning Qur’anic interpretation are among the important requirements of contemporary Qur’anic studies.
The program therefore seeks to move students beyond general familiarity with Tafsir and Qur’anic Sciences toward advanced specialized study, methodological analysis, critical evaluation, and academic research.
Program Overview
The Master’s Degree in Qur’anic Interpretation and Qur’anic Sciences is a specialized academic program in the field of Qur’anic studies. It is designed to deepen students’ knowledge and skills in Qur’anic Interpretation (Tafsir) and Qur’anic Sciences, and to prepare them for advanced study, analysis, and research in various fields related to the Holy Qur’an and its interpretation.
The program does not limit the study of Tafsir to a single methodological approach. Instead, students are introduced to a range of interpretive methodologies and approaches, including Qur’an-by-Qur’an interpretation, comparative tradition-based interpretation, rational interpretation, mystical/gnostic interpretation, literary interpretation, and chronological (revelational) interpretation. Through these subjects, students become familiar with the foundations, characteristics, and methodological procedures of each approach, while studying representative examples of relevant Qur’anic commentaries.
An important component of the program is the analytical and critical study of interpretive methodologies and trends. This includes literary and linguistic, mystical, jurisprudential, and interdisciplinary approaches to Tafsir, as well as some contemporary approaches such as chronological/revelational interpretation, structural interpretation, and contemplative interpretation.
The program also includes a significant component on Qur’anic Sciences and contemporary issues in the discipline of Tafsir. Students examine topics such as the language of the Qur’an, hermeneutics, the relationship between the Qur’an and the culture of its time, and contemporary theories concerning Qur’anic understanding and interpretation. These issues are studied and evaluated from the perspective of Qur’anic studies.
Other important areas include the Qur’an and Orientalists, trends in scientific interpretation of the Qur’an, thematic interpretation of theological verses, legal verses, and ethical verses. This diversity enables students to combine the study of the classical exegetical tradition with critical engagement with contemporary questions and approaches in Qur’anic interpretation.
Research training is another essential component of the program. Students develop skills in research methodology in Tafsir and Qur’anic Sciences, topic selection, identifying and evaluating sources, preparing research proposals, thematic interpretation, and academic writing. The final thesis provides students with an opportunity to apply their acquired knowledge and research skills to a specialized topic in Qur’anic Interpretation and Qur’anic Sciences.
Importance of the Program
The field of Qur’anic studies has continuously expanded, accompanied by increasing diversity in interpretive methodologies and trends, as well as the emergence of new questions concerning the understanding and interpretation of the Qur’an. There is consequently a growing need for specialists and researchers who are capable of studying and analyzing the classical exegetical heritage while also engaging critically with contemporary approaches and issues.
Understanding different interpretive methodologies, examining their foundations and procedures, evaluating their strengths and limitations, and addressing new questions concerning Qur’anic interpretation are among the important requirements of contemporary Qur’anic studies.
The program therefore seeks to move students beyond general familiarity with Tafsir and Qur’anic Sciences toward advanced specialized study, methodological analysis, critical evaluation, and academic research.
Objectives of the course
Program ObjectivesThe Master’s Degree in Qur’anic Interpretation and Qur’anic Sciences aims to:
Train specialists in Qur’anic Interpretation and Qur’anic Sciences.
Prepare researchers in the fields of Qur’anic and exegetical studies.
Deepen students’ knowledge of different interpretive methodologies and trends.
Provide specialized knowledge of the major methodologies of Qur’anic interpretation.
Develop the ability to study and analyze major Qur’anic commentaries and exegetical sources.
Introduce students to the foundations and methodology of Qur’an-by-Qur’an interpretation.
Develop familiarity with tradition-based interpretation and its comparative approaches.
Introduce the foundations and methodology of rational and ijtihad-based interpretation.
Study the foundations and methodology of mystical/gnostic interpretation.
Introduce literary and linguistic approaches to Qur’anic interpretation.
Study chronological/revelational interpretation and selected contemporary exegetical approaches.
Develop the ability to analyze and critically evaluate interpretive methodologies and trends.
Introduce interdisciplinary approaches to Qur’anic interpretation and the relationship between the Qur’an and other fields of knowledge.
Examine major approaches and debates surrounding scientific interpretation of the Qur’an.
Introduce contemporary issues in the discipline of Tafsir and modern theories of understanding the Qur’an.
Study the language of the Qur’an and theories concerning Qur’anic language.
Introduce hermeneutics and its relationship to Qur’anic interpretation.
Examine the relationship between the Qur’an and the culture of its time.
Introduce Orientalist studies of the Qur’an and develop the ability to analyze and critically evaluate them.
Develop skills in reading and analyzing Qur’anic and exegetical texts.
Strengthen students’ ability to conduct academic research in Tafsir and Qur’anic Sciences.
Develop skills in selecting research topics, identifying sources, and preparing research proposals.
Prepare students for educational and research activities in the field of Qur’anic Interpretation and Qur’anic Sciences.
Provide the academic foundation required for further study at the doctoral level.
Subjects offered
Main Subjects and Study Areas1. Sequential Interpretation through the Qur’an
This area focuses on the methodology of interpreting the Qur’an through the Qur’an, whereby Qur’anic verses are used to clarify and interpret other verses.
Key topics include:
Concept and foundations of Qur’an-by-Qur’an interpretation.
Explanation of Qur’anic verses through other verses.
The relationship among Qur’anic verses in the interpretive process.
Study of exegetical examples.
Comparative study of selected Qur’an-by-Qur’an commentaries.
Capacities and limitations of this interpretive methodology.
2. Sequential Comparative Tradition-Based Interpretation
This area examines tradition-based Qur’anic interpretation and the study of exegetical narrations and their methodologies, with particular attention to comparative approaches.
Key topics include:
Foundations of tradition-based interpretation.
The role of transmitted reports in Qur’anic interpretation.
Sources of exegetical narrations.
Study and analysis of interpretive narrations.
Tradition-based interpretation among the two major Islamic traditions.
Comparative analysis of tradition-based methodologies.
Study and analysis of selected tradition-based commentaries.
3. Sequential Rational Interpretation
This area focuses on rational and ijtihad-based approaches to Qur’anic interpretation and examines their foundations, methods, and representative examples.
Key topics include:
Foundations of rational interpretation.
The role of reason in understanding and interpreting the Qur’an.
Ijtihad-based methodology in Tafsir.
Study of the views of exegetes.
Critical evaluation of rational approaches to interpretation.
Study of selected rational commentaries.
4. Sequential Mystical/Gnostic Interpretation
This area examines the mystical and gnostic approach to Qur’anic interpretation, its intellectual foundations, characteristics, and representative commentaries.
Key topics include:
Foundations of mystical/gnostic interpretation.
Mystical approaches to understanding the Qur’an.
Characteristics of mystical commentaries.
Study of selected mystical commentaries.
Analysis and evaluation of mystical methodologies and foundations.
5. Sequential Literary Interpretation
This area focuses on the role of language, literature, vocabulary, grammatical structures, and rhetorical features in understanding and interpreting the Qur’an.
Key topics include:
Foundations of literary interpretation.
The role of Arabic language in understanding the Qur’an.
Analysis of Qur’anic vocabulary and structures.
Literary and rhetorical dimensions of Qur’anic verses.
Study of literary commentaries.
Comparative study of literary approaches to Tafsir.
6. Sequential Chronological/Contextual Interpretation
This area examines chronological or revelational interpretation, with particular attention to the order of revelation and the historical and social circumstances surrounding the revelation of Qur’anic verses.
Key topics include:
Concept of chronological/revelational interpretation.
Importance of the chronological order of revelation.
Relationship between the circumstances of revelation and Qur’anic verses.
Stages of the revelation of the Qur’an.
Potential of the chronological approach in Qur’anic interpretation.
7. Qur’anic Sciences
Qur’anic Sciences comprise a range of foundational disciplines and subjects related to the Holy Qur’an and constitute an essential basis for advanced specialization in Tafsir and Qur’anic studies.
This area covers major issues in Qur’anic Sciences, including fundamental questions concerning the identification, understanding, and interpretation of the Qur’an, as well as major sources and references in the field.
8. Critical Study of Interpretive Methodologies and Trends
This is one of the principal analytical areas of the program. It introduces students to various methodologies and trends in Qur’anic interpretation and develops their ability to analyze and critically evaluate them.
Major topics include:
Tradition-based interpretation.
Rational interpretation.
Mystical/gnostic interpretation.
Jurisprudential interpretation.
Literary and linguistic approaches.
Interdisciplinary interpretation.
Social interpretation.
Political interpretation.
Economic interpretation.
Legal interpretation.
Educational interpretation.
Astronomical interpretation.
Medical interpretation.
Contemporary interpretive approaches.
Chronological/revelational interpretation.
Structural interpretation.
Contemplative interpretation.
The objective is not merely to introduce these approaches, but to enable students to examine their foundations and characteristics and critically assess their scholarly potential, strengths, and limitations.
9. The Qur’an and Orientalists
This area examines Orientalist studies of the Qur’an and introduces students to major trends and views concerning the Qur’an within Orientalist scholarship.
Key topics include:
History of Qur’anic studies among Orientalists.
Orientalist views concerning the Qur’an.
Major Orientalist trends in Qur’anic studies.
Analysis and evaluation of Orientalist perspectives.
Contemporary Orientalist discussions concerning the Qur’an.
10. Trends in Scientific Interpretation of the Qur’an
This area examines the emergence, development, and various trends of scientific interpretation and the relationship between the Qur’an and the natural sciences.
Key topics include:
Concept and background of scientific interpretation.
Origins and sources of scientific interpretation.
Qur’anic verses containing scientific references.
Scientific traditions and reports.
Types of scientific references in the Qur’an.
Scientific indications.
Scientific wonders.
Scientific inimitability (I‘jaz ‘Ilmi).
Foundations of the relationship between the Qur’an and the sciences.
Scope and limits of the relationship between the Qur’an and the sciences.
The question of conflict between the Qur’an and science.
Historical periods of scientific interpretation.
Views of proponents and critics of scientific interpretation.
11. Contemporary Issues in the Discipline of Tafsir
This area addresses important contemporary issues and theories related to understanding and interpreting the Qur’an.
Key topics include:
The language of the Qur’an.
Concept and significance of Qur’anic language.
Theories concerning Qur’anic language.
Referential and meaningful language.
Figurative and symbolic language.
Multilayered and interpretive language.
Different approaches to Qur’anic language.
Hermeneutics and Qur’anic interpretation.
Classical hermeneutics.
Philosophical hermeneutics.
Neo-classical hermeneutics.
The relationship between hermeneutics and Qur’anic interpretation.
The relationship between the Qur’an and the culture of its time.
Theories concerning the influence or non-influence of the culture of the time on the Qur’an.
12. Research Methodology in Tafsir and Qur’anic Sciences
This area aims to provide students with the skills required for specialized research in Tafsir and Qur’anic Sciences and to prepare them for academic research and thesis writing.
Key topics include:
Concept and foundations of Qur’anic research.
Importance of research in Qur’anic Sciences.
Selecting a research topic and title.
Preparing a research proposal.
Identifying Qur’anic sources and references.
Methodology of sequential interpretation.
Lexical analysis.
Syntactic and structural analysis.
Analysis of contextual indicators.
Types of thematic interpretation.
Intratextual thematic interpretation.
Extratextual thematic interpretation.
Comparative thematic interpretation.
Interdisciplinary thematic interpretation.
Stages of thematic interpretation.
Qur’anic theory-building.
Challenges in Qur’anic research and for Qur’anic researchers.
Principles of academic thesis writing.
Specialized Elective Courses
The program includes a range of specialized elective courses. In accordance with the academic regulations, students select 10 units from a total of 14 elective units.
The elective courses include:
Foundations and Principles of Interpretation among the Two Major Islamic Traditions.
Critical Study of the Foundations and Methodologies of Qur’an Translation.
Thematic Interpretation of Theological Verses.
Thematic Interpretation of Legal Verses.
Thematic Interpretation of Ethical Verses.
Applied Qur’anic Recitation and Tajwid.
Specialized Language.
These electives enable students to pursue subjects that correspond to their academic interests and research direction, including comparative interpretation, Qur’an translation, thematic interpretation, theological, legal and ethical verses, Qur’anic recitation and Tajwid, and specialized language.
Academic and Research Competencies of Graduates
Upon completion of the program, graduates are expected to be able to:
Study specialized subjects in Tafsir and Qur’anic Sciences in a systematic and academic manner.
Identify and analyze different interpretive methodologies and trends.
Study major Qur’anic commentaries and evaluate them from a methodological perspective.
Select an appropriate interpretive methodology according to the subject of research.
Conduct scholarly comparisons among different interpretive methodologies.
Read and analytically study Qur’anic and exegetical texts.
Understand the foundations and methodologies of Qur’an-by-Qur’an, tradition-based, rational, mystical, literary, and chronological/revelational interpretation.
Examine interdisciplinary and contemporary approaches to Qur’anic interpretation.
Analyze contemporary discussions concerning Qur’anic language, hermeneutics, and the relationship between the Qur’an and the culture of its time.
Identify, analyze, and critically evaluate Orientalist perspectives on the Qur’an.
Understand different approaches and debates concerning scientific interpretation of the Qur’an.
Identify and academically examine emerging questions and issues in Tafsir and Qur’anic Sciences.
Identify and utilize specialized sources and references in Qur’anic and exegetical studies.
Select appropriate research topics and formulate research titles in Qur’anic studies.
Identify, evaluate, and use relevant sources and references.
Conduct specialized academic research in Tafsir and Qur’anic Sciences.
Present research findings in the form of academic papers, research projects, or a thesis.
Develop the academic competencies required for teaching and research activities in Tafsir and Qur’anic Sciences.
Acquire the necessary academic foundation for further specialization at the doctoral level.
Overall Program Structure
The academic structure of the Master’s Degree in Qur’anic Interpretation and Qur’anic Sciences consists of specialized courses, elective courses, and a thesis.
The main specialized component covers major areas including different methodologies of Qur’anic interpretation, Qur’anic Sciences, and the critical study of interpretive methodologies and trends. The elective component allows students to select courses according to their academic interests and research priorities.
The final stage of the program includes a 6-unit thesis, through which students apply the knowledge and research skills acquired throughout the program to a specialized research topic in Qur’anic Interpretation and Qur’anic Sciences.
Course details
| Course Name | Exegesis and Quranic Sciences |
|---|---|
| Degree | Master |
| Presentation Language | English |
| Course certificate | Provided upon completion |
| Course duration (terms) | 4 |