Investigating the Foundations of Hermeneutic Interpretation with Emphasis on Mulla Sadra's Works

Hermeneutic interpretation is the inward level of interpretation which is related to the esoteric meaning of matters. In principle, understanding the hermeneutic interpretation of a text is influenced by ontology. Attention to its existence and levels, and the relationship among man, the Qur'an and the Being are effective in one’s approach to hermeneutic interpretation. In the present paper, the ontological and linguistic foundations of the hermeneutic interpretation of the Quran have been analyzed. The ontological foundations of the longitudinal hermeneutic interpretation include the levels of the universe, the relation of the outer and inner aspects and the correspondence of man, the Quran and being, as well as attention to the world of imagination, which is referred to as contiguous imagination in man and non-contiguous imagination in the world. In the linguistic foundations, being author-oriented (understanding the meaning and intent of the author) through understanding his words, and the possibility of spreading the customary language and the spirit of meaning as well as the longitudinal layers of the truth of the Quran are discussed. At the end, an example of Mulla Sadra's hermeneutic interpretation of some Quranic verses is given, and its category in hermeneutic interpretation is briefly discussed. To facilitate the understanding of hermeneutic interpretation in his mystical path, this paper seeks to present the foundations of hermeneutic interpretation by relying on Mulla Sadra's views.