The Quran, the Symbolic Language, Myth and Hermeneutics

In this study, an attempt is made to clarify the meaning of hermeneutics, assess its relation with ta’wil (esoteric interpretation) and interpretation from the viewpoint of Muslim scholars, and to explicate the common principles of ta’wil and hermeneutics in a classic sense. The utilization of symbolic language and natural language in the Quran is also explored, the disagreement between the proponents of symbolic language and natural language is briefly explained and, finally, the viewpoints of Molla Sadra and ibn-Arabi on the requirements of understanding the Quran are examined.