mCritical assessment of Denise A. Spelberg s View of Ifk verses (Quran, Nur/ 11-20), the article of Aisha in EQ

Denise Spellberg’s article on “Aisha” in the Encyclopedia of Quran pays much concern to the story of Ifk (falsehood) in the verses 11-20 of Sura al-Nur. In her narration of the story, the writer has confined herself to the traditions on the causes of revelation rather than the verses proper. She proclaims these verses as the most explicit ones about Aisha; whereas the forth verse of Sura al- Tahrim is more explicit .Although she considers these verses as the clear manifestation of Muslim sectarian disagreement, but the Shia and Sunni have no serious disagreement on these verses. She claims that the Shia accuse Aisha of adultery; however according to them, not only Aisha but also all the wives of all the prophets are innocent of any such act. Spellberg considers interpretation of the Quran subject to the exegetes’ appeals and biases, whereas Muslim scholar's requirements and qualifications for any interpretation goes beyond all these personal preferences . Dedicating great value to the impact of presuppositions and appeals has root in philosophical hermeneutics that suffers from many flaws. She also asserts the impact of gender on the Quran’s interpretation, neglecting the fact that the diversity of interpretations on verses concerning women has root in the epistemological principles of the exegete and the cultural-social conditions of his/her era, rather than his/her gender.