Here is where Kamal departs most radically from mainstream i’jaz writers. He was deeply suspicious of literalism. For example, when the Qur’an describes the heavens as a “roof” (21:32) or the sun setting in a muddy spring (18:86), the i’jaz writer contorts physics to fit the literal. Kamal, drawing on his existentialist training (he was a scholar of Heidegger and Sartre), insisted on .
Zakaria Kamal's scientific approach to tafsir has several implications and significance:
: His lectures and writings, such as those through the Academy of Scientific Tafsir of Al Quran (ASTAQ) , explore the evolution of life on Earth as a divine process guided by intelligent design. Significant Works and Resources scientific tafsir zakaria kamal
Central to Kamal’s scientific tafsir is the concept of Tawhid not merely as a theological formula, but as a . For Kamal, the declaration “There is no god but God” is also a statement about the universe’s intelligibility. Because the universe is the creation of a singular, rational Will, it operates according to consistent laws ( sunan ). This consistency is the precondition for science.
Zakaria Kamal's scientific approach to tafsir is rooted in his conviction that the Quran is a book of guidance and wisdom that speaks to all aspects of human life, including science, philosophy, and spirituality. He argues that the Quranic text contains references to various scientific phenomena and natural processes that can be understood and interpreted in the light of modern scientific knowledge. Here is where Kamal departs most radically from
He argued that the Qur’an speaks to human beings embedded in a lifeworld ( Lebenswelt ). Its descriptions of nature are phenomenological, not physicalist. The “rising and setting of the sun” is not an astronomical error; it is the accurate description of human perception, which the Qur’an sanctifies. Scientific tafsir, therefore, must distinguish between:
In conclusion, Zakaria Kamal's scientific tafsir approach represents a significant contribution to Quranic studies and Islamic thought. By integrating insights from various disciplines and encouraging critical thinking and rational inquiry, Kamal's work offers a nuanced and multifaceted understanding of the Quran's message. As Muslim scholars and communities continue to grapple with contemporary challenges and complexities, Kamal's scientific tafsir approach provides a valuable framework for interpreting the Quran's teachings and applying them to everyday life. Kamal, drawing on his existentialist training (he was
Unlike classical commentaries (Tafsir bi-al-Ma'thur), which rely primarily on historical narrations and linguistic analysis from the early centuries of Islam, Zakaria Kamal’s approach—often categorized as (Scientific Interpretation)—posits that the Quran contains universal truths that are only becoming fully understood as human scientific knowledge advances. His methodology involves: