A Comparative Study of Understanding according to Gadamer and Allamah Tabatabai

Understanding is the key concept in hermeneutics and many a number of hermeneuticians such as Schleiermacher, Dilthey, Hirsch, Heidegger, Gadamer, etc have discussed it at length. When it comes to tafsir or interpretation of the Quran, the term 'understanding' is very often used alongside other key words. Allamah Tabatabai, for instanc, makes use of this term in different parts of Tafsir al-Mizan. He speaks of the definition of understanding, possibility of understanding, understanding and preunderstandings and their relationshp with the interpretation of the Quran. Given his meticulous use of these combinations and the expressions in the last divine Book, they are highly important and instrumental in interpretation . C
onsidering the comparative approach of this study, an attempt has been made to delve into and examine Allamah Tabatabai's words and those of Gadamer in respect of hermeneutical understnaing .