Abed al-Jaberi's Interpretation Method in ‘Madkhal ila al-Quran al-Karim’ and ‘Fahm al-Quran al-Hakim: al-Tafsir al-Wadhih Hasba Tartib al-Nuzul’

Muhammad Abed al-Jaberi, a Moroccan modernist and thinker in the field of Islamic studies, has adopted a special attitude in interpreting the holy Quran. The revival of Mu’tazilism can be considered one of his beliefs and observations. In the preface to his commentaries entitled ‘Madkhal ila al-Quran al-Karim fi al-Ta’rif bil-Quran’ and ‘Fahm al-Quran al-Hakim’, he has introduced his interpretation principles and method. Consideration of the order of the descending of the Quranic surahs along with their revelation to the Prophet (p.b.u.h) is one of al-Jaberi's interpretation principles. Given this issue, al-Jaberi's interpretation method can be considered as an ijtihadi interpretation method. In adopting this method, al-Jaberi has utilized several techniques in the interpretation of the Quran: the separation of the text from glosses, the consideration of the context, the necessity of arranging the verses in chronological order to ease their correct understanding, the use of the verses within the framework of the context, the determination of the surahs' positions in their order of descent, paying attention to the course of Mohammedan invitation in the interpretation of the verses, the interpretation of the verses of the Quranic stories and parables with the aim of giving proof and expressing and supporting the goals of the invitation, and making conditional use of the narrations related to the occasion of the revelation of the Quranic verses.