Philosophical hermeneutics and contemporary Muslim scholars' approaches to interpreting scripture

Although the German philosopher Hans-Georg Gadamer was not a religious thinker or theologian, his work and approach have influenced thinkers in the field of theology. This article explores some 'overlaps' between Gadamerian hermeneutics and the ideas of some contemporary Muslim scholars such as Nasr Hamid Abu Zayd, Abdolkarim Soroush, Muhammad Mujtahed Shabestari and Hassan Hanafi regarding issues of textual interpretation and understanding. In particular, the article seeks to understand how such ideas have appeared in these Muslim scholars' approaches to interpreting the QurMODIFIER LETTER RIGHT HALF RINGan. It also explores some of the implications that follow from incorporating Gadamer's ideas into Islamic theological and political discourses. The article argues that the application of Gadamer's hermeneutic philosophy to the realm of QurMODIFIER LETTER RIGHT HALF RINGanic studies is not only fruitful insofar as it provides new insights into the interpretation of the QurMODIFIER LETTER RIGHT HALF RINGan, but also has important consequences for Islamic theological and political discourses more broadly.