batoul vaez; roqayyeh kardel ilvari
Volume 9, Issue 34 , July 2013, , Pages 103-124
Abstract
This article seeks to study Rumi’s and al-Ghazali’s approaches to ta’wil (text interpretation). First, literal and figurative meanings of ta’wil are explained, and its manifestations in the Holy Quran are investigated. Then, its rules, characteristics of interpreter, legitimate ...
Read More
This article seeks to study Rumi’s and al-Ghazali’s approaches to ta’wil (text interpretation). First, literal and figurative meanings of ta’wil are explained, and its manifestations in the Holy Quran are investigated. Then, its rules, characteristics of interpreter, legitimate and illegitimate interpretation, as well as tafsir (exegesis) are discussed. Moreover, al-Ghazali is shown to be under the influence of Batiniyah and Mu’tazilah when interpreting texts while he is known to be a formidable opponent of their beliefs. Then, Rumi’s approach to ta’wil is addressed and shown to cover ta’wil at three stages, including the Quranic verses and hadiths, signs, and mystical expressions. Finally, Rumi’s and al-Ghazali’s approaches are compared. The results indicate that Rumi’s approach to ta’wil is somehow similar to al-Ghazali’s.