Marife Dini Araştırmalar Dergisi

Öz

In this study, after giving information about the scientific tafseer, some examples of scientific tafseer in Kur’an Yolu exegesis published by the Presidency of Religious Affairs will be examined. The Holy Quran has been interpreted with different approaches since its revelation. One of these approaches is the scientific tafseer method which the verses are interpreted within the framework of the data of positive sciences. Although the history of this method goes back to the fifth century (A.H.) and even the period of the companions, the examples in these periods are rare and at a primitive level. However, it was possible for this method to become a school in the nineteenth century. Various reasons have been put forward for the scientific tafseer to become a school. When studies on scientific tafseer are examined, it is understood that the most important reason for the development of this school is to create a scientific method based on the Qur'an to stop the decline of Muslims in the race against the West, which advanced in science and technology after the industrial revolution, and to refute the view that Islam is an obstacle to science. Since this date, it is seen that scientific tafseers have been included in many commentaries, and individual works related to scientific tafseer have been written. However, it is seen that the increasing interest in this method rather than the aforementioned reasons was effective in the acceleration gained by this method in the following process. One of these books in which the verses are handled within the framework of data of modern sciences is Kur’an Yolu exegesis published by the Presidency of Religious Affairs which has a wide readership. Although there is no direct statement in the introduction of the book that the scientific tafseer method will be used while interpreting the verses, it is indicated from the following statements that the book will include scientific explanations: The Qur'an is an exemplary book in terms of form and content, and information about creation, existence, human and the structure of the universe is among its important features, and the requirements of science and the requirements of the age should be considered together in the tafseer. In the introduction of Kur’an Yolu exegesis, it is stated that a selective approach will be followed while giving information and explaining in tafseer and that new comments will be put forward. This shows that a selective approach will be followed in scientific tafseer, as in other fields, in the book and comments arose in the modern period will also be included. In Kur’an Yolu exegesis, while explaning the verses scientifically, works related to the positive sciences in Turkish and foreign languages as well as the tafseers in classical and modern periods are used. The source of many explanations in the book constitutes articles about the positive sciences of Turkiye Diyanet Foundation (TDV) Encyclopedia of Islam. As understood, the fact that both works are related to the Presidency of Religious Affairs is effective in this preference. In Kur’an Yolu exegesis, it is seen that the previous scientific explanations of the verses are included, independent comments are made in this direction, and some scientific tafseers are rarely criticized. In the book, which is stated that the Quran is not a science or astronomy book, data on positive sciences are often handled within the framework of "guidance" which is the main goal of the Quran. This situation shows that scientific tafseer is not seen as a goal in the exegesis, but as a tool in achieving the main goal of the Quran. The fact that the book was written in the modern period enables us to catch a holistic perspective in terms of scientific tafseer and to reach new ideas. Moreover, evaluation of previous explanations of scientific tafseer in the Kur’an Yolu exegesis also provides a critical perspective to the reader. Stating that interpreting the verses with scientific discoveries or theories is not always an accurate method and for every verse, Kur’an Yolu exegesis states that the theories regarding the creation of the universe and the developments in natural sciences help the Quranic verses to be understood better. Kur’an Yolu exegesis, which does not interpret all the verses with the data of modern science, mostly takes care to comment on the issues that are clearly expressed in the verses and proven by science. In the book, which focuses on interpreting cosmology depending on the method followed by the Qur'an, it is also seen that the verses are interpreted with the data of geology, biology, meteorology and medicine. In the Kur’an Yolu, there are also comments that scientific data are associated with i’jāz of the Quran.