Pathology of Neglecting the Interaction between the Qur’an and Hadith in Exegesis

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Mohammad Mahdi Shahmoradi Fereidoni 1
Fatemeh Akbari Seyyed Mahalleh 2
Habibollah Halimi Jelodar 3
1 Associate professor of the Quran and Hadith Department of the Faculty of Theology and Islamic Studies, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran.
2 M.A. Student, Department of Quranic and Hadith Sciences, Faculty of Theology and Islamic Studies, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran.
3 Associate Professor of the Qur'an and Hadith Department, Faculty of Theology and Islamic Studies, University of Mazandaran. Babolsar. Iran.
10.22034/nqr.2025.2059217.1020
Abstract
The dynamic interplay between the Qur’an and Hadith constitutes a foundational axis in Islamic epistemology, particularly in the realm of tafsir (Qur’anic exegesis). Despite this essential relationship, a discernible neglect of their interaction in certain exegetical and hadith-based approaches has resulted in significant epistemological, methodological, and practical deficiencies. This study, through a critical-analytical method and library-based research, seeks to examine the adverse consequences arising from such neglect. The findings classify the harms into three primary domains: epistemological, such as excessive allegorization (ta’wīl) and interpretation devoid of prophetic narrations; methodological, including selective citation of hadith and disregard for exegetical principles such as contextual coherence (siyaq), rational analysis, and historical context; and practical, encompassing semantic distortions and the exacerbation of sectarian divisions. A key conclusion of the research is that failing to evaluate hadiths against the Qur’anic standard has led to misreadings, conceptual misalignments, and the proliferation of divisive theological perspectives. The study emphasizes the imperative of reviving the Qur’an-centered approach to tafsir through the principle of ‘arad al-hadith ‘ala al-Qur’an (examining narrations in light of the Qur’an). It further proposes the formulation of a comprehensive hermeneutical framework that integrates rational, linguistic, and historical principles, thereby fostering a more coherent and unifying understanding of Islamic teachings.
Keywords
Qur’an-centric hermeneutics
exegetical hadiths
epistemological critique
tafsir methodology
excessive allegorization

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Hadith-based Qur’anic Research

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 14 May 2025