Towards Dismantling the Jurisprudential Focus in Reading the Qur’anic Text: An Interpretive Objective Approach in Light of the Contemporary Imami Debate
Keywords:
Juristic centralization, Maqasid-based interpretation, Imami jurisprudence, Interpretive plurality, Objectives of Sharia, Fatwa authorityAbstract
This study explores the concept of juristic centralization within the Imami field, analyzing its foundations, characteristics, and its impact on the interpretation of Qur’anic texts. Juristic centralization is shown to dominate textual meanings by reducing them to rigid legal formulations, while excluding other interpretive dimensions such as ethical, philosophical, or maqasid (objective-based) approaches. The research differentiates between legitimate juristic readings and centralization as a monopolization of meaning that denies interpretive plurality. It also discusses the central authority of the jurist as the sole interpreter and how fatwas influence Qur’anic interpretation, leading to the closure of religious discourse. In contrast, the study highlights maqasid-based interpretation as an epistemological horizon that prioritizes overarching values and purposes of the texts, emphasizing the dynamic interaction between the reader and the Qur’anic message. The study concludes that overcoming juristic centralization requires adopting a maqasid-oriented approach that revitalizes the text’s message, promoting justice, freedom, and human dignity.
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