Emergence of the Synchronic Approach in Contemporary Qur’anic Studies: An Analytical Study

Document Type : Original Article

Author

English Section, Department of Islamic Studies in Foreign Languages, Faculty of Languages and Translation, Al - Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt

Abstract

The synchronic approach in Qur’anic studies examines the Qur’an as a unified and coherent text, focusing on its structural organization, thematic coherence, linguistic features, and literary qualities in its present form. This method aims to understand the Qur’anic text without considering what Western scholars claim to be its historical development or the stages that led to its final composition. It explores how various parts interrelate and contribute to the overall meaning and message of the Qur’an.
Early Western Qur’anic studies were predominantly characterized by the diachronic approach. However, in the twentieth century, several factors contributed to the development of holistic approaches in Qur’anic studies.  The latter half of that century witnessed the adoption of new methodologies that treated individual sūrahs as coherent units or the Qur’an as an integrated whole. This shift was driven by emerging literary trends that favored synchronicity, particularly after recognizing the limitations of the diachronic approach in text interpretation. Scholars began to emphasize the internal coherence and unity of the Qur’anic text, leading to more detailed and comprehensive analyses of its structure

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