Interpretation Of The Holy Quran In The Light Of Modernity

Abstract

This study tries to analyse the fact that the modern age is an influent factor on the explanation and interpretation of the holy Quran “Tafsir”. Although many researchers disagreed with many principles of this discipline and criticized it, in particular Dr. Aicha Abdurrahman who strongly disagreed with modern interpretation as suggested and demonstrated by Dr. Mustafa Mahmoud. Despite all the reservations surrounding the interpretation of the holy Quran, most researchers would agree on the fact that it still needs further contemporary, updated and modern explanation; especially, in this new age starting with Imam Mohamed Abdou and his student Mohamed Rachid Redha and Imam Abdulhamid Ben Badis. Moreover; the study presented some of the positive and negative effects of the modern age on Tafsir. The main effects are that “Tafsir” is now going in the flow of modernity. In addition to the fact that it played an important role in facing colonialism and calling for political and social reformation. It is fair to say that Tafsir (interpretation) has become liberated from the circle of texts and opinions, using a new tool which is “Science” instead of language, Fiqeh and Aquida. From another side, Tafsir cannot be limited to one age, even the age of “salaf” (the three first centuries of Islam), because the interpretation of the holy Quran should be affected by modern times and must be up dated with the history of the nation and knowledge, thus we can solve our problems everywhere and at every time. To realise that, Tafsir moved in this age from the language of methods to the language of trends. That is to say, from the used materials in interpretation into the overall frame and the intellectual background oriented towards the interpretation needs