(The Dialectics of Reading Religious Texts: Between Arkoun’s Anthropology of Religion and Shabestari’s Modernist Hermeneutics)

Abstract

This study seeks to explore a new horizon in reading religious texts in contemporary Islamic thought by analyzing the relationship between the anthropological critique introduced by Mohammed Arkoun and the modernist hermeneutics advocated by Mohammad Mojtahed Shabestari. The research begins with the premise that both scholars aim to reinterpret religious texts beyond traditional frameworks, yet they fundamentally differ in their methodologies. On one hand, Arkoun employs a historical-critical approach that perceives texts as cultural products shaped by their socio-historical contexts. On the other hand, Shabestari presents a dynamic interpretation that reconstructs meaning based on contemporary intellectual and social transformations.

Research Problem and Its Significance

One of the most pressing challenges in contemporary Islamic thought is how to engage with religious texts amid ongoing intellectual and societal shifts. While some approaches advocate for rigid readings that isolate texts from intellectual progress, others propose interpretive frameworks that risk excessive relativism, thereby stripping texts of their stable significance. This research addresses the need for alternative methodologies that balance the historical dimension of texts with interpretative flexibility.

Key Research Questions

1.Can Arkoun’s anthropological approach be reconciled with Shabestari’s modernist hermeneutics?

2.To what extent can historical criticism be an effective tool for understanding texts without leading to their complete deconstruction?

3.How can a hermeneutic model be developed that preserves the spiritual essence of religious texts while avoiding intellectual stagnation?

3.What is the role of the Muslim intellectual in engaging with these hermeneutic challenges without falling into extremism or intellectual isolation?

Importance and Practical Relevance of the Research

This research is far from being a mere intellectual exercise; rather, it represents a serious attempt to address hermeneutic issues that directly impact Islamic thought in its various manifestations. The reevaluation of methodologies for interpreting religious texts is an intellectual necessity to keep pace with evolving thought. This makes the study highly relevant to contemporary debates on hermeneutics in Islamic thought. Additionally, the methodological approach of this research provides intellectual solutions for the Muslim thinker striving to move beyond the dichotomies of innovation and tradition, sanctification and deconstruction.

Findings and Proposed Solutions

By analyzing the differing approaches of Arkoun and Shabestari, it becomes evident that the solution does not lie in favoring one approach over the other but rather in constructing a balanced model that integrates historical contextualization with interpretive flexibility. The key findings of this study include:

1.Reconsidering Hermeneutics as a Flexible Epistemological Process: Instead of confining texts to rigid readings or subjecting them to excessive deconstruction, a balanced hermeneutic approach can be adopted to preserve their core meanings while adapting them to contemporary realities.

 2.Integrating Historical Criticism with Philosophical Interpretation: While historical criticism can illuminate the evolution of texts over time, it should not be employed as a means of negating their spiritual dimension. In this regard, Shabestari’s approach plays a crucial role in revitalizing the deeper meanings of religious texts.

3.Empowering the Muslim Intellectual to Shape a Rational Hermeneutic Discourse: Islamic thought requires an enlightened intellectual figure capable of harmonizing tradition with modernity, avoiding both the absolute sanctification of texts and the chaos of unregulated interpretations.

Towards a Comprehensive Vision for Contemporary Islamic Thought

The need for a balanced hermeneutic model is no longer a theoretical issue but an epistemological necessity given the rapid intellectual and social transformations. As Heidegger states, “Hermeneutics is not merely an analytical tool; it is an existential experience that reshapes our relationship with texts” (Heidegger, 1953, p. 78). This perspective demonstrates that Islamic thought possesses the capacity to reinvent its critical tools without forfeiting its original identity. Thus, this research represents a step toward constructing a critical framework that transcends conventional dichotomies and fosters an intellectual space that redefines the relationship between text and reader based on deeper and more open-ended principles.