This thesis is an attempt to analyze Fazlur Rahman's hermeneutical method: his theory of the divine revelation of the Qur'an and its application to the case of zakat (alms) and riba (usury) in particular. Rahman's theory is firmly in touch with reality and he proposes a well-argued system of Qur'anic methodology. Theoretically, he seeks to determine the general principles behind the Qur'anic legal texts, since the latter were contextualized by time and place while the former are universal and eternal. Practically, Rahman calls Muslims to an intellectual jihad in the effort to reformulate the Qur'anic legal injunctions on social matters in order to solve the problems of the present. Rahman sees the long-standing ad hoc solutions, such as those of the traditionalist Muslims, as unworkable due to their piecemeal treatment of the Qur'anic teachings. / The thesis then explores Rahman's proposal for hermeneutical philosophy particularly of Gadamer and Emilio Betti. It attempts to show that Rahman's use of the notion of 'effective history' to understand the 'mind' of the Prophet in formulating the Qur'anic laws leads him to subjectivism. For one thing, he judges the Prophet's mind from the present century when rationality and technology play a dominant role. Besides, laws in the Qur'an are explained in terms of their socio-economic background. Consequently, the thesis comes to the conclusion that Rahman's hermeneutics are lacking in theological considerations and the legal intentions of the Qur'an are secularized.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:QMM.26318 |
| Date | January 1994 |
| Creators | Rasyid, Amhar |
| Contributors | Hallaq, Wael B. (advisor) |
| Publisher | McGill University |
| Source Sets | Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Coverage | Master of Arts (Institute of Islamic Studies.) |
| Rights | All items in eScholarship@McGill are protected by copyright with all rights reserved unless otherwise indicated. |
| Relation | alephsysno: 001433800, proquestno: MM99927, Theses scanned by UMI/ProQuest. |
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