Orientalist and Hermeneutical Approaches in Qur'anic Interpretation: A Study of Abraham Geiger and Hans-Georg Gadamer

Abstract

This study examines the Qur'anic interpretative approaches of the orientalist Abraham Geiger and the philosopher Hans-Georg Gadamer. Geiger, representing the orientalist tradition, compares the Qur'an to Jewish religious texts. In contrast, Gadamer's hermeneutical framework emphasizes the role of historical consciousness and the dynamic interaction between the text, the author, and the reader in the process of understanding. The objective of this study is to critically analyze the similarities and differences in the interpretative approaches of these two thinkers. This study employs a qualitative research design, with data collected primarily through document analysis of scholarly sources, including books, journal articles, previous research, and online resources. The findings indicate that Geiger views the Qur'an as being influenced by Jewish traditions, while Gadamer argues that meaning emerges through continuous dialogue between the reader, text, and historical context. This study contributes to the academic discussion on Qur'anic interpretation by mapping the orientalist and hermeneutical approaches, offering insights into the fundamental differences between Islamic and Western intellectual traditions.