A Methodological Study of “The Study Quran”

The Orientalists’ movement of Qur’ānic studies from the 11th century onwards has had three distinct periods; the first concentrated on the critique of the Qur’ān, the second one accompanied by a colonial and evangelical movement, and the third had a scientific mask.  “The Study Qur’ān” in recent years by several American orientalists and edited by Dr. Seyyed Hossein Nasr in eight volumes as the first volume (including Sūrat al-Ḥamd, Baqarah, Āl-ʿImrān) has been translated into Persian and published is included in the third category.    The methodological critique of this work is discussed in this article. First, the strengths of this work, including the original English language [not translation] and its fluent translation and defense of the revelation of the Qur’ān, are expressed here, then dealt to criticize the principles, interpretive method, and mystical approach, as well as the authors’ positions on religious pluralism, diluting verses against Judaism and Christianity and darkening the verses of Ahl al-Bayt, the Shiite view and the miracle of the Qur’ān. Finally, this book has been considered as the cause of the abandonment of the Qur’ān in the current era, especially in Western societies.