Secularism and the Scientific Interpretation of the Qur’an: The Dialectic of Reason and Religion in Abdelmajid Charfi’s Reading
31 October 2025 2025-10-31 20:34Secularism and the Scientific Interpretation of the Qur’an: The Dialectic of Reason and Religion in Abdelmajid Charfi’s Reading
Secularism and the Scientific Interpretation of the Qur’an: The Dialectic of Reason and Religion in Abdelmajid Charfi’s Reading
This study explores the dialectical relationship between secularism and the scientific interpretation of the Qur’an in contemporary Islamic thought, with particular attention to the works of Abdelmajid Charfi. It examines how secularism, scientific interpretation, and the interaction between the sacred and the profane intersect in modern engagements with the Qur’anic text. The research situates itself within broader debates on how Islamic scholarship responds to modern scientific paradigms and the role of the Qur’an in addressing contemporary intellectual challenges. Charfi critically examines the reconciliatory approach that seeks to extract modern scientific truths directly from Qur’anic verses, contending that such efforts risk relativizing the sacred text and disrupting the equilibrium between reason and revelation. He argues that the so-called “scientific interpretation” should not be understood as a cosmic or empirical enterprise but as a hermeneutic endeavor grounded in faith and reason. The central problem addressed by this study concerns the legitimacy and implications of this reconciliatory method, and whether secularism can foster collective intellectual awareness without diminishing the sanctity of the Qur’an. Through a descriptive, analytical, and critical approach, the study analyzes Charfi’s interpretive discourse, highlighting its intellectual and social dimensions. Ultimately, it contributes to a deeper understanding of the interplay between secularism and religion, clarifies the epistemological limits of scientific interpretation, and underscores the need to harmonize reverence for the sacred text with a rational and open engagement with modern knowledge.
Dr. Hayet Diwani
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