A Critical Evaluation of the Critical Opinions on the Methodology of Allama Tabatabai in His Book (Tafsir al-Mizan): An Analytical Critical Study

Abstract

Critics have offered numerous perspectives on the interpretive methodology of Al-Tabataba'I in his seminal work, Tafsir al-Mizan, which is widely regarded as one of the most prominent contemporary exegeses in Islamic thought.

The work is distinguished by a methodology grounded in the principle of "interpreting the Qur'an by the Qur'an," serving as the foundational basis for the entire process of  Qur'anic elucidation, This approach represented an attempt to restore the centrality of the Qur'anic text in exegesis, diverging from an absolute reliance on traditional narrations or specific theological and philosophical orientations.

However the practical application within his exegesis reveals Al-Tabatbab'I's openness to a variety of approaches, including linguistic analysis, philosophical inquiry, narrative transmission, and sociological interpretation.

This methodological diversity has sparked extensive scholarly debate regarding the boundaries of his primary primary principle and the extent of his strict adherence to it.

A rigorous analysis of the exegetical structure demonstrates that this methodological diversity was not a deviation from the core principle, but rather an extension of its interpretive function.

The Qur'anic text remained the supreme reference point against which all other analytical tools were evaluated and from which their hermeneutical

 legitimacy was derived.

What distinguishes Al-Tabataba'i's methodology is the structural balance between Qur'anic authenticity and intellectual openness.

Rather than rejecting moden scientific and intellectual methodologies, he subjects them to a Qur'anic criterion, ensuring that the primary text is never superseded.

Through this approach, Al-tabataba'I successfully presented a contemporary exegetical model that harmonizes objective analytical rigor with a profound spiritual ethos.