A Critical Study of Goldziher's opinions on the Shiite Exegetical Style

The science of exegesis is a lucrative element to better understand the Quran and obey the divine teachings. To be aware of interpreter's exegetical tendencies and methods plays a key role in apprehension of the exegeses and thus has always attracted the attention of researchers. Ignaz Goldziher, a Hungarian Jew Oriental, is one of those Orientalists who have explored the exegetical tendencies of the Quran amongst the Muslims and have challenged some of the Shiite means of induction. The present paper studies the books written on exegetical tendencies among the Muslims and responds the baseless critiques developed by Goldziher on the Shiite exegesis. The writer has critically treated Goldziher's opinion on the Shiite metaphorical and symbolic styles of exegesis, his accusation that the Shiites do not rely on the Uthmanic Codex of the Quran and that they believe in distortion of the Quran. Finally, the conclusion is drawn that Goldziher has attributed the exegetical styles and theories of the Qur’ānic sciences of many Muslim sects to Shia.