A Critical Analysis of the Scientific Foundations in Positive Orientalists’ Thought 

Scientific interpretation of Quran is one of the interpretive methods that has gained attention from Quranic researchers in the contemporary era. Analyzing and examining the foundations of this interpretive approach is necessary because many criticisms of the scientific interpretation method are based on judgments about the beliefs and practices of believers in scientific interpretation. Acceptance or rejection of these foundations will determine the interpreter’s enthusiasm or aversion to this interpretive method. Orientalist thinkers are among those who have engaged in evaluating the foundations of scientific interpretation. Some have criticized and denied these foundations, while others have deemed them valid and accepted scientific interpretation of the Quran. Studying and analyzing the perspectives of Orientalist scholars indicates that the second group, referred to in this article as positive Orientalists, believe in the conformity of Quranic teachings with actual benefits and harms and the possibility of empirically testing some scientific knowledge in the Quran, thereby negating any conflict between the Quran and science. They consider the utilization of scientific knowledge in the Quran as an undeniable necessity and present scientific findings as a means to better understand the Holy Quran. This group attributes the past Islamic scientific and cultural civilization to Quranic teachings and emphasizes the Quran’s responsiveness to the needs of contemporary and future humans. Another key foundation of scientific interpretation for this group is the consideration of the scientific miracles of the Quran, which has been remarkable for some Orientalists and has led to their insight.