The Nature and Domain of Rational Tafsir

One of the most accepted and acknowledged methods by exegetes for interpreting the Quran is the “Rational Interpretation Method.” In the beginning, it was mentioned in the speeches of the Prophet and his Households. Also, it was accepted today due to the spreading of philosophical, ideological, and rational studies. Tasnim and al-Mizan tafsirs are two of the best-known examples of adopting this method.This article uses a descriptive-analytical method to study the nature and domain of rational tafsir. Based on the results of this study, different opinions about the meaning of rational tafsir were recognized. One opinion considers rational tafsir as the use of rational reasoning, while another opinion presents it the same as reason-based (ijtihādī) tafsir, and another opinion shows it as the use of one’s opinion in interpretation. One more opinion defines it as the scientific interpretation, besides that, an opinion describes it as the use of evidence and reasoning.Among all of these opinions, the most accurate is the one that explains the rational tafsir to be an interpretation of the Quran by using rational proofs. The results that are obtained by this research about rational tafsir with respect to its domain, include experimental reason, theoretical reason, and practical intellect. Rationality in interpretation has different uses, such as analyzing information, solving the obvious conflict among the verses of the Quran, meditation, and showing and explaining the intellectual messages that it contains.