The Theories of Interpretation of Texts and the Author - Oriented Approach of Muslim Commentators

Carious theories concerning the interpretation of religious texts are classified as follows: Author-oriented approach which considers revealing the intentions and purposes of the author as the duty of commentator. Text –oriented one which considers the knowledge of the internal elements and the structure of the text as an adequate means of access to its meaning. Commentator oriented approach offers the commentator a position higher than that of the audience, giving him a big role in construction of meaning. The major question of the present article is as follows: In view of the variety of interpretational methods and approaches of Muslim commentators, what is the position of the exegetical theory of Muslim commentators among the above-mentioned approaches? Referring to commentators’ remarks in the introductions and texts of their own commentaries, certain materials in the discipline of the principles of jurisprudence, and based on the arguments on the necessity of revelation, the present article establishes the author-oriented approach as that of the Muslim commentators. The most significant characteristics of the author – Oriented approach of Muslim commentators are as follows: emphasizing divine purposes, admitting the relation of God and the Quran, considering God’s peculiar features in interpretation.