The Applied Process of Comparative Thematic Interpretation

The “comparative interpretation” as a new method in the Qur’anic studies has been paid attention
by the Qur’anic scholars and some research has been conducted regarding various
Qur’anic issues as well as the related explanations. But the incomplete interpretation of this
interpretive method and supposing that comparison is the purpose of discovering differences
and similarities prevents the development of the right process and reduces its efficiency. With
the aim of providing a basis for comparative studies, this study examines the practical process
of comparative studies in the Qur’an. This process has some levels (L), steps (S) and procedures
(P) which are presented as follows: L1. selecting the controversial issue; 2. defining the
problem; 3. preparing the structure; 4. identifying the subjects of adaptation and the type of
confrontation of views; 5. preparing research literature; 6. extracting the view of the Qur’an
with regard to the view of the applicable commentators; L6 S1 .collecting relevant verses; L6
S1 P1. obtaining the verses cited and their types; L6 S1 P2. searching and extracting verses
with various meanings, using literal and conceptual methods and using various tools and
sources and categorizing them; L6 S1 P3. Step 3: judging the verses cited by the commentators
according to the collected verses; L6 S2. understanding the verses and evaluating the interpreters’
understanding of the verses they cite L6 S2 P1. understanding the verses in their place,
by making sure of the recitation, the meanings of the words and their literary position and the
phrase of the verses, discovering the practical meanings and serious meanings of the verses;
L6 S2 P2. assessing the comprehension of the applicable commentators on the verses and their
differences; L6 S2 P3. determining the meaning of the verses and judging the understanding
of the commentators according to the factors of difference in interpretation ; L6 S3. extracting
the view of the Qur’an according to the opinions of the applicable commentators ; L6 S3 P1.
collective consideration of the verses which have close implications with each other; L6 S3 P2.
seeing conflicting verses and resolving conflict; L7. evaluating the views of the commentators.