Borhan and Ta’wīl; The Two Aspects of Ibn Sina's Method in Interpreting The Holy Quran

Understanding Quranic verses from a philosophical perspective is one of the conventional methods among Muslim commentators. The method's main features consist of relying on the general metaphysical principles and employing argumentative reasoning to disclose the verses. Studying various philosophical thoughts reveals that Ibn Sina is the first philosopher who presents philosophical interpretation on a variety of verses and chapters of the Holy Quran in the true sense of the word. Understanding the epistemic nature of divine revelation and certainty in perception of revelation as well as addressing the holy Quran as the ultimate source of knowledge and esoteric interpretation of the verses are his main basic thoughts in interpreting the Holy Quran. Also, in his philosophical works, Ibn Sina refers to the Quranic verses as examples, causes, or adaptations. Reviewing Ibn Sina's interpretive works indicates that his interpretation would be considered as neither Tafsīr (conventional exegesis) nor entirely Ta’wīl (esoteric interpretation). In his commentaries, he employs argumentative reasoning based on accurate principles and valid sources of Quranic commentaries. However, he sometimes imposes his philosophical views through his esoteric interpretation to disclose the verses and this would be an example of arbitrary interpretation. Thus, in the current inquiry, first I review the recent approaches of studying philosophical interpretations. Then, extracting his interpretive basis of disclosing Quranic verses, I would discuss Ibn Sina's method in his Quranic exegetical works according to the principles of scientific investigation in this field.