International Conference on Social Sciences and Humanities Research · Vol. 2 No. January Issue (2026)

Alauddin Al-Samarqandi’s Comprehensive Approach To The Concepts Of «Tafsir» And «Ta’wil» In Islamic Hermeneutics

Authors

  • Ikhtiyor Abrurakhmanov

Keywords

tafsir ta’wil Islamic hermeneutics Alauddin al-Samarqandi Hanafi school Maturidi tradition Quranic interpretation ra’y Transoxiana Samarkand school

Abstract

Alauddin al-Samarqandi was a preeminent Hanafi scholar of Transoxiana during the Karakhanid era, recognized for his profound contributions to Islamic jurisprudence (Usul al-Fiqh) and theology (Kalam). This article delves into al-Samarqandi’s systematic methodological approach to Quranic hermeneutics, specifically his rigorous conceptual distinction between Tafsir (exegesis) and Ta’wil (interpretation). By examining his works, the article explores how al-Samarqandi resolved the epistemological tension between the necessity of rational deduction (ra’y) in jurisprudence and the Prophetic traditions that seemingly condemn interpreting the Quran through personal opinion. His framework not only preserved the orthodox Maturidi tradition but also provided a lasting criterion for distinguishing valid scholarly interpretation from heretical distortion.

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