The influence of symbolic anthropology in the interpretation of Quranic concepts

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Student of Qur'an and Hadith Sciences, Isfahan (Khorasgan) ,, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran.

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Foreign Languages, Baqir al-Olum University, Islamic Propagation Office, Isfahan, Iran. The Corresponding Author.

3 Professor, Department of Qur'an and Hadith Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.

Abstract

Religion, as a social process, is a symbolic subject of investigation from an anthropological perspective. Consequently, symbolic anthropologists seek to explore religion, aiming to understand the Qur'an through the lens of anthropology. In this process, they employ an anthropological method for interpretation. Therefore, the question raises: "To what extent is the method of symbolic anthropology effective in interpreting the Qur'an?" The necessity of discussing this issue lies in the existing differences among scholars, namely, "whether the language of religion is symbolic or not?" Through examining the role of symbolic anthropology in the interpretation of the Qur'an, one can realize the extent to which symbolism is applicable in understanding Qur'anic concepts. Determining its impact then will clarify whether all aspects of religious language are symbolic or not. The conducted examination reveals that these two orientations are positioned against each other in the interpretation of the Qur'an. In both approaches, understanding the meaning of each sign requires identifying its extra-textual context. The difference lies in the fact that, according to Girtz, the extra-textual context is cultural and individual, while according to Turner, the social meaning system is considered, making signs generally devoid of individual meanings.
 

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

  1. Ᾱlousῑ, Shahab al-Din (nd). "Rouh al-Ma'ᾱnῑ fῑ Tafsῑr al-Qur'an al-Karim," Beirut: Dar 'Ihyᾱ' al-Turᾱth Al-Arabῑ. [In Arabic]
  2. Abrishami, Samaneh et al. (2021). "Analysis of Intention in Qur'an Semantics," Journal of Researches of Qur'anic and Hadith Sciences, 18(2): pp. 1-39. [In Persian]
  3. Astarᾱbᾱdῑ, Ali (1409 AH). "ta'wῑl Ᾱyᾱt al-Zᾱhira fῑ Fadᾱ'il 'Itrat al-Tᾱhira," Qom: Islamic Publishing Institute. [In Arabic]
  4. Hosseini Tehrani, Mohammad Hossein (1427 AH). "Eschatology," Mashhad: Noor Malakout Qur'an. [In Persian]
  5. Dhahabῑ, Shams al-Din (2003). "Al-'Arsh," Medina: Scientific Research Department, the Islamic University. [In Arabic]
  6. Sultani, Mustafa (2011). "Informative adjectives in the thought of Ayatollah Javadi Amoli," Hekmat 'Isrᾱ' Journal, No 9: pp. 71-91. [In Persian]
  7. Safa'ei Takht-e-Fouladi, Mohammad Reza (2017). Al-Zahra fῑ tafsῑr al-Qur'an al-Karῑm," Isfahan: Mu'allif. [In Arabic]
  8. Tabᾱtabᾱ'ῑ, Sayed Mohammad Hussein (1995). "Al-Mᾱzᾱn fῑ Tafsῑr al-Qur'an," [Persian translation: Mohammad Baqer Mousavi,] Qom: Society of Seminary Teachers of Qom. Islamic Publications Office. [In Persian]
  9. Tabᾱtabᾱ'ῑ, Sayed Mohammad Hussein (1973). "The Qur'an in Islam," Beirut: Dar al-Zahra. [In Arabic]
  10. Alavi-Mehr, Hossein (2005). "Foundations of Martyr Motahhari's Ideas in Understanding and Interpreting the Qur'an," Journal of Researches of Qur'anic and Hadith Sciences, No. 4: pp. 7-26. [In Persian]
  11. Fokouhi, Naser (2011). History of Thought and Theories of Anthropology, Tehran: Negah Publishing, 7th edition. [In Persian]
  12. Mojahed, Seyed Mohammad (1917). "Mafᾱtῑh al-Usoul." Qom: Ᾱl al-Bayt Institute for the Revival of Heritage. [In Arabic]
  13. Motahhari, Morteza (2011). "Collected Works," Tehran: Sadra. [In Persian]
  14. Nasiri, Ali (2009). "Qur'an and Symbolic Language," Ma'rifat Journal, No. 35. [In Persian]
  15. Bühler, Karl (1934). Sprachtheorie: die Darstellungsfunktion der Sprache, Amsterdam: J. Benjamins Publishing Company.
  16. Des Chene, Mary (1996). Symbolic Anthropology. [In Encyclopedia of Cultural Anthropology. New York: Henry Holt. Pp. 1274-1278.]
  17. Geertz, Clifford (1974). Myth, Symbol, and Culture, New York: W. W. Norton.
  18. Geertz, Clifford (1973). The Cerebral Savage: On the Work of Claude Levi-Strauss. [In The Interpretation of Cultures. New York: Basic Books, Inc. Pp. 345-359.]
  19. Geertz, Clifford (1973-d). Thick Description: Toward an Interpretive Theory of Culture. [In: The Interpretation of Cultures. Pp. 3-30. New York: Basic Books, Inc.]
  20. Geertz, Clifford (1973-e). Religion as a Cultural System. [In The Interpretation of Cultures. New York: Basic Books, Inc. Pp. 87-125.]
  21. Hjelmslev, Louis (1969). Prolegomena to a Theory of Language. University of Wisconsin Press.
  22. Howard Mounce (1990). Wittgenstein’s Tractatus: An Introduction. Oxford: Basil Blackwell.
  23. Keesing, Roger M. (1974). Theories of Culture. In Annual Review of Anthropology. Bernard J. Siegal ed. Palo Alto California: Annual Reviews Inc.
  24. Langer, Susanne K. (1953). A Theory of Art, Developed From: Philosophy in a New Key. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons.
  25. Ortner, Sherry B. (1984). Theory in anthropology since the Sixties. Comparative Studies in Society and History. 26:126-166.
  26. Leavitt, John Harold (2010). Linguistic relativities: language diversity and modern thought. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.
  27. parker, Richard (1985). From Symbolism to Interpretation: Reflections on the Work of Clifford Geertz. Anthropology and Humanism Quarterly 10(3):62-67.
  28. Peirce, C.S. (1878). "How to Make Our Ideas Clear", Popular Science Monthly, v. 12, 286–302.
  29. Schneider, David (1980) American Kinship: A Cultural Account. 2nd edition. Chicago and London: University of Chicago Press.
  30. Turner, Victor W. (1980). Social Dramas and Stories about Them. Critical Inquiry 7:141-168.
  31. Turner Victor (2018). Dramas, Fields, and Metaphors: Symbolic Action in Human Society. Cornell University Press.
  32. Womack, Mari (2005). Symbols and Meaning: A Concise Introduction. California: AltaMira Press.

 

Files

History

  • Receive Date: 11 January 2023
  • Revise Date: 31 December 2023
  • Accept Date: 25 June 2023

Share

How to cite

Statistics