The Comparative Educational Method in the Quran

The comparative educational method is among the most applied educational methods in the Holy Quran. In this method, the educator firstly states the contrast between two antithetic subjects and the related results; and in the next stage, he compares the two sides of the contrast and refers to other similar Quranic verses to precisely explain the two sides and prepare the ground for conscious assessment and free selection for the pupils. This study investigates the contrastive concepts in the verses of the Quran such as monotheism and polytheism, evildoing and piety, healthy heart and ill heart, God’s party and Satan’s party, and refers to reliable exegesis through a descriptive-analytical method aiming at explaining a mostly-used educational method in the Quran, extracting its foundations and functions. The findings of the study show that the comparative method has been much used in the Quran and its foundations are as follows: ‘existence of contrast in the universe’, ‘God as the only non-contrasted truth’, ‘contrast of intellect and ignorance in human being’, and ‘human’s choice among contrasting things’. This method has invaluable functions for educators such as creating a new way in teachings doctrines, answering some religious doubts and questions, explanation of consequences of behavior; and it has important results for pupils including nurturing and reinforcing one’s willpower, power of selection and choice, nurturing the power of thinking and reasoning, increasing one’s knowledge, creating interest in virtues and hatred for vices.