Browsing by Author "Zarasi, Mohammad"

This library-oriented research examined the dialogue between Allah and Iblis in the Qur'an. The composition and form of the dialogue were evaluated in this study. The whole discussion between Allah and Iblis were encapsulated in one exchange and then some important statistics were indicated about the words and sentences in this. Moreover, the essential principles of the dialogue were illustrated and this categorized in the Qur'an based on its unique characteristics. This dialogue was compared and contrasted with similar ones in Judaism, Christianity and Zoroastrianism. Lessons obtained from the dialogue were then discussed. The verses from when the angels and Iblis were commanded to bow down until the concluding words of Allah were elaborated: the refusal of Iblis, the inquiry of Allah on the disobedience of Iblis, the reactionary answer and expulsion of Iblis from heaven, the request of Iblis, the approval of respite for Iblis, the final words of Iblis, the revengeful vows and the destiny of Iblis were widely explained. The study concludes that the dialogue between Allah and Iblis was a revolutionary turning point in the history of man, and it tremendously determined the fundamental outlook of the life of man. A variety of principles, characteristics and teachings, in addition to its own specific form, distinguishes this dialogue from others in the Qur'an. This is more apparent when the dialogue in the Qur'an was more organized and conductive in comparison with similar dialogues between Allah and Satan in other religions.

This study compared Mohammad Mojtahed Shabestari and Abdolkarim Soroush’s methodologies of understanding the Qurān. The principles of hermeneutics borrowed and implemented by Shabestari and Soroush were evaluated and compared. It analyses their views on the methodology of understanding the Qurān, the differences in their approaches and their conformity and otherwise of their views with the Islamic worldview. Based upon a qualitative content analysis of their approaches, the study exposed and compared Shabestari and Soroush views on selected significant issues based on their principles of hermeneutics. Moreover, Shabestari and Soroush’s views about the quiddity of the Qurān were identified and compared accordingly. The traditional methodologies and their relation with hermeneutics were examined. The study concludes that according to Shabestari and Soroush, understanding the Qurān does not occur purely and without having presupposition. The study shows that contrary to main stream understanding of Islam, Shabestari and Soroush argue that the Qurān is the words of Prophet Mohammad. While Shabestari did not discuss the nature of revelation, Soroush “dream revelation” theory explains the nature of revelation.