The Application of Thematic Analysis in Exegesis: the Structural Analysis of the Surah as-Saff (Qur’ān, 61) With an Emphasis on Al-Mīzān Commentary

Document Type : Scholary

Authors

Department of Qur’ān and hadīth sciences, faculty of theology, College of Farabi, University of Tehran, Qom, Iran

Abstract

Thematic analysis is one of the common qualitative methods of analysis that is being used by the researchers of various fields of study to analyze various data. This causes suchlike Islamic studies not to be attended at the international level. The use of thematic analysis in the interpretation of the Qur’ān can help researchers understand it and its hidden layers better and deeper. This prevents them from being misled and drowned in the ocean of overt and covert themes of the Qur’ān and stops them from achieving an inaccurate understanding of the Qur’ānic themes and their relationships. This study set out to provide the researchers of Islamic resources with the what, why, and how of thematic analysis of interpretive texts in a concise and practical manner. This was done via a case study of the book Al-Mīzān fī tafsīr al-Qur’ān using the MAXQDA software. Since the correct implementation of the method is of utmost importance, every step of the process of investigating the interpretation of the Surah as-Saff (Qur’ān, 61) in Al-Mīzān fī tafsīr al-Qur’ān is reported by giving in the thematic analysis of the verses of this chapter. After analyzing the themes and codes extracted from the interpretation of the verses of Surah as-Saff (Qur’ān, 61), it was figured out that the main intention of the chapter is to express the believers’ duties, with the top duties being having faith in God and His Prophet (PBUH) and resolutely and persistently struggling for the sake of God. These have been called the most beneficial businesses. Of course, the other duties of believers can also be assigned to this theme.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

‘Ābidī Ja’farī, Ḥ., M.S. Taslīmī, A. Faqīhī, & M. Shaykhzādi (2011), «Taḥlīli maḍmūn wa shabakiyi maḍāmīn: Rawishī sādi wa kārāmad barāyi tabyīni ulgūhāyi mujūd dar dādihāyi kayfī». Majalliyi Andīshiyi Mudīrīyyati Rāhburdī, vol. 2, no. 10, 151-198.
Abū’ī Ardakānī, M., S. Labbāfī, S. Ādharpūr, & M. Jalālpūr, (2014), «Shināsāyīyi ‘awāmili ḥayātīyi muwaffaqīyyat tafakkuri rāhburdī dar dīdgāhi mudīrāni sāzmānhāyi farhangīyi shahri Tihrān». Pazhūhishnāmiyi Mudīrīyati Ijrāyī, no. 7, 13-34.
Attride-Stirling, J. (2001), «Thematic networks‌: An analytic tool for qualitative research». Qualitative Research, vol. 1, no. 3, 385-405.
Boyatzis, R. E. (1998), Transforming qualitative information: Thematic analysis and code development. California, Sage
Braun, V., & V. Clarke (2006), «Using thematic analysis in psychology». Qualitative Research in Psychology, vol. 3, no. 2, 77-101.
Charmaz, K. (2001), Grounded theory. In R. M. Emerson (Ed.), Contemporary field research: Perspective and formulations (2nd ed., pp. 335-52). Prospect Heights, Waveland press.
Dirakhshi, J., A. Iftikhārī, & M. Radādī (2015), «Taḥlīli maḍmūnīyi i’timāddar andīshiyi Āyatullāh Khāminiyī». Justārhāyi Sīyāsīyi Mu’āṣir, vol. 6, no. 3, 53-72.
Khazā’ī, D. (2019), Tabyīni ulgūyi naẓarīyi «mudīrīyyati jahādī» bā miḥwarīyyati Nahj al-balāgha wa sīriyi Amīr al-Mu’minīn (A) [PhD dissertation]. Tehran, Allameh Tabataba’i University.
King, N., & C. Horrocks (2010), Interviews in qualitative research. London, Sage.
Lincoln, Y., & E. Guba (1985), Naturalistic inquiry. Beverley Hill, Sage.
Mihrī, K., B. Yazdkhāstī, M.Ḥ. Panāhī (2014), «Farātaḥlīli pazhūhishhāyi anjām shudi dar khuṣūṣi naqshi ‘awāmili mu’aththir bar basīji hamgirāyāniyi aqwām». Rāhburd, no. 73, 93-114.
Miles‌, M.B., & A.M. Huberman (1994), Qualitative‌ data‌ analysis: An expanded sourcebook. Thousand Oaks, CA, Sage.
Mullā Shafī’ī, B., A. Bahjatpūr, M. Nāṣiḥī (2020), «Āsīb shināsīyi akhlāqī-sīyāsīyi jāmi’i wa rāhkārhāyi dastyābī bi jāmi’iyi maṭlūbi Islāmī bar asāsi sūriyi Aḥzāb». ‘Ulūmi Sīyāsī, no. 23, 7-23.
Pākatchī, A. (2017), Rawish taḥqīq bā tikyi bar ḥuziyi ‘ulūmi Qur’ān wa Ḥadīth (2nd ed.). Tehran, Dānishgāhi Imām Ṣādiq (A).
Qāḍī Mīr Sa‘īd, S.A., & Ḥ. Tājābādī (2016), Mafhūmi tusi‘i wa pīshraft dar andīshiyi Maqāmi Mu‘aẓẓami Rahbarī (mudda ẓillah). Nashrīyyiyi ‘Ilmīyi Mudīrīyyati Islāmī, vol. 24, no. 3, 147-169.
Qumī, A. (1984), Tafsīr al-Qumī. Edited by Ṭ. Jazāyirī, Qom, Dār al-Kitāb.
Rossman, G.B., & S.F. Rallis (2003), Learning in the field: An introduction to qualitative research (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA, Sage.
Saldana, J. (2015), The coding manual for qualitative researchers (first printing). Translated by A. Gīwīyān, Tehran, Intishārāti ‘Ilmī wa Farhangī.
Strauss, A., & J. Corbin (2016). Basics of qualitative research: Grounded theory procedures and techniques (5th ed.). Translated by A. Afshār, Tehran, Nashri Nay.
Suyūṭī, A., & A. Ibn ‘Abbās (1984), Al-Durr al-manthūr fī al-tafsīr bil-ma’thūr. Qom, Maktabat Āyatullāḥ al-’Uẓmā al-Mar’’Āshūrāī al-Najafī.
Ṭabāṭabā’ī, M.Ḥ. (1992), Al-Mīzān fī tafsīr al-Qur’ān (2nd printing, volume 19). Qom, Ismā’īlīyān.
Ṭabrisī, A. (2000), Al-Iḥtijāj. Edited by M.B. Mūsawī Khirsān, Beirut, Mu’assisa al-A’lamī lil-Maṭbū’āt.
Classical and Contemporary Islamic Studies (formerly known as Journal of Contemporary Islamic Studies)
Volume 6, Issue 2
Summer & Autumn 2024
July 2024
Pages 153-167

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics