A Comparative Study of the Interpretative Methodologies of Imām Fakhr Al-Dīn Al-Rāzī, And Sir Syed Ahmad Khan In The Light of Sūrat Al-Fīl

امام رازی اور سرسید احمدخان کے مناہج تعبیر و تشریح کا ” سورۃ الفیل کی روشنی میں “ تقابلی مطالعہ

Abstract

The Qur’an is the most comprehensive source of divine guidance and the final and complete expression of God’s message. Its proper understanding requires the discipline of tafsīr, which holds fundamental importance in interpreting its meanings. Throughout various periods, exegetes have interpreted the Qur’an according to their intellectual, philosophical, and cultural contexts, resulting in a significant diversity of exegetical methodologies.

In this paper, a comparative study is presented on the exegetical methods of Imām Fakhr al-Dīn al-Rāzī and Sir Syed Ahmad Khan in the context of the interpretation of Sūrat al-Fīl. The study begins with a followed by an overview of the historical background of the Incident of the Elephant. Thereafter, the perspectives of both scholars regarding this event are analyzed comparatively, in order to clearly highlight their respective methods of interpretation.

The study concludes that Imām al-Rāzī’s methodology represents the classical Islamic exegetical tradition, whereas Sir Syed Ahmad Khan’s approach reflects rationalism and subjective reinterpretations. This comparative analysis brings to light the depth and breadth of the diverse intellectual and interpretive trends found in contemporary Qur’anic studies.