The Theology-Centered/Human-Centered Dichotomy; a New Approach to the Typology of the Interpretations of the Holy Quran

Given the huge mass of interpretation texts produced during the history of Islam, typology of interpretations of the Quran gas become one of the troubles of the interpreters of the Quran during the last century. Although classification of interpretations on the basis of interpretation “methods and attitudes" as well as "historical periods" which has been offered by Muslim scholars and orientalists has some advantages, it suffers from a number of disadvantages and, for this reason, some suplemenrary typologies are needed. Hence, in addition to discussing the shortcomings of the current classifications, the present study attempts to offer a new classification on the basis of the two “human-centered” and “theology-centered” macro approaches. Accordingly, human-centered interpretations try to yield interpretative impressions compatible with the requirements and discourses of their addressees while theology-centered interpretations produce interpretation texts relying on the interpretation heritage of the predecessors and being influenced by tradition of understanding the Quran.