The Journal of Quranic Studies and Islamic Culture is published with the aim of deepening and expanding Quranic research, developing the culture of Quranic studies, and introducing new research in this field. This journal welcomes submissions of Quranic articles with a historical, literary, linguistic, and Iranian-Islamic cultural approach.

About the Journal 

  •  Journal title: Quranic Studies and Islamic Culture
  • Country: Iran
  • Publisher: Iranian Society for Quranic Studies and Islamic Culture
  • Category: Quranic Studies
  • Type of published articles: Research, promotional, review  (Details)
  • Month and year of publication: 2017
  • Credit of the journal: Scientific (Details)
  • Language: Persian - English (English Abstract)
  • Journal Frequency: quarterly
  • Format: Printed & Online
  • The cost of reviewing and publishing the article: there is an expense
  • Period of initial review of articles: 10 days
  • Process of Review: Double-Blind Review
  • Review Time: 3 to 6 months
  • Acceptance percentage of articles: 15%
  • Use of similarity search before sending to arbitration: Yes (Samim Noor)
  • Access to Articles: Free (Open Access) & Full Text
  • The rating of the publication based on the latest assessment of the Ministry of Science:
  • Indexed: Yes
  • Status in ISC: Q3 (Details)

 

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

 Open Access Policy

All articles of the Journal are Open Access "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0)" . That means you are free to:

  • Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format
  • Adapt — remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially.

 Copyright: Under open access license, authors retain ownership of the copyright for their content, but allow anyone to download, reuse, reprint, modify, distribute, and/or copy the content as long as the original authors and source are cited properly.

Contact us:

  • Address: Ayenehvand St. (West 64), Kurdistan Exp., Institute for Humanities and Cultural Studies, Tehran, Iran.
  • Postal Code: 1437774681
  • Email: Isqs.journal2@gmail.com
  • Dear authors, please, in order to ask questions and follow up on the article, only via email to the above email address, dear authors; Please, in order to ask questions and follow up on the article, just send an email to the above email address.
  • Tel: +98-21-88612875
  • Fax: +98-21-88036317
Research Article Quranic Studies

The Contemporary Literary School's Perspective on Quranic Narratives and their Implications

Pages 1-30

https://doi.org/10.22034/isqs.2026.52546.2431

Fereshteh Talebi, Majid Maaref, Saleh Ghanadi

Abstract The theorists of the Contemporary Literary School in Quranic interpretation evaluate the text of this sacred book within the horizon of literary texts, emphasizing its literary, rhetorical, and aesthetic aspects. Although this approach has played a significant role in elucidating the expressive capacities of the Quran, in some readings it has led to extremist interpretations. Quranic narratives have been considered merely allegorical, mythical, or historical. Such a perspective has negatively impacted the process of Quranic interpretation and highlighted the necessity of critically analyzing its harms and consequences.
Using a descriptive-analytical method and library sources, this research extracts and analyzes the consequences of this interpretive approach. The most important findings include the expansion of allegorism regarding Quranic narratives and the prevalence of a symbolic view of the Quranic language. This view, beyond weakening the factuality of Quranic words, has led to denying the authority of the Quran's apparent meanings (Hujjiyat al-Zawahir), skepticism toward prophetic miracles, and reducing the historical credibility of Quranic narratives. These consequences conflict with the Quran's fundamental purpose of guidance, moral instruction, and educational impact. They confront modernist interpretations with serious epistemological and methodological challenges.

Research Article Quranic Studies

Title: The Combinatorial and Sequential Arrangement of Divine Dyadic Attributes in the Qur'an: The Theory of "Combinatorial Inclination"

Pages 31-57

https://doi.org/10.22034/isqs.2026.53236.2447

Hamed Shivapoor

Abstract This research investigates the pattern of co-occurrence of divine attributes at the end of Quranic verses. The main question is what specific order or rule governs the combination and sequence of these paired attributes. Inspired by the concept of "chemical affinity" from chemistry, the hypothesis of this study is that the divine attributes in the Quran follow rules similar to the periodic table of elements; meaning that each attribute has a specific " Combinatorial Inclination" with other attributes. To test this hypothesis, data related to the endings of verses were extracted and categorized using systematic content analysis.
The findings indicate that the divine attributes possess varying ranges and intensities of combinatorial affinity; such that some attributes frequently appear together, while others never co-occur. Furthermore, the sequence of these attributes follows fixed or fluid patterns that are linked to the verse's context and Quranic cadences. This discovery not only illuminates the literary aesthetics of the Quran but also provides a foundation for deeper studies in the fields of Quranic exegesis, linguistics, and even the systematization of theological concepts based on the Quran.

Research Article Quranic Studies

Striving (saʿy) as the Axis of Human Responsibility and Destiny in Qur’anic Discourse: An Analytical Reading of Najm :39

Pages 58-79

https://doi.org/10.22034/isqs.2026.53748.2462

Ahmad Gharaee

Abstract This study examines the role of sa‘y(striving)in shaping human destiny, focusing on the Qur’anic verse “wa an laysa li-l-insāni illā mā sa‘ā”(Najm53:39).This verse is central to debates on divine justice, moral responsibility, and the possibility of transferring reward, as it affirms the foundational role of human agency in determining one’s ultimate outcome.Employing a descriptive–analytical method and drawing upon authoritative lexical sources, Qur’anic evidence, the context of verses 36–41of Sūrat al-Najm, exegetical opinions, and relevant traditions, the study explores the precise meaning and scope of sa‘y.The findings indicate that, in Qur’anic discourse, sa‘y is not limited to outward action but denotes deliberate, conscious, and goal-oriented effort rooted in human intention and awareness.Examination of related verses further shows that the principles of individual responsibility and personal ownership of one’s deeds occupy a central place in the Qur’an.Analysis of traditions concerning the benefit of others’actions to the deceased reveals that such cases do not imply a transfer of reward or augmentation of a person’s record of deeds; rather,they are understood within the framework of guidance, admonition,and moral influence.Accordingly, the verse underscores the existential independence of the human being in shaping his destiny and confines the role of others to cognitive and spiritual guidance.

Research Article Quranic Studies

Examining the structure of the story of Prophet Abraham's deliverance from fire using a linguistic context approach

Pages 80-101

https://doi.org/10.22034/isqs.2026.53697.2460

Marzieh Kohandel Jahromi

Abstract Introduction
In linguistic and semantic studies, context is recognized as the backdrop and framework that determines the precise meaning of words and sentences.This research has been conducted with a descriptive-analytical approach and a library-based method. The required data was collected through a comprehensive search of the verses of the Holy Quran using authoritative lexical sources (such as Mu'jam Maqāyīs al-Lughah by Ibn Fāris ) and exegetical sources (such as Majma' al-Bayan, al-Mizan, al-Kashshaf).The analysis process was as follows: first, the literal and technical meaning of the story Prophet Abraham from the fire. Then, by studying all the verses containing this word, its different semantic aspects were extracted and categorized. In the next step, by analyzing the linguistic context of the verses,
Results
Analysis of Three Stages of Abraham’s Story by Linguistic Context
Stage 1: Denial of Idolatry
Verses from Al-An’am (6:78) and Az-Zukhruf (43:26) both depict Abraham's rejection of idolatry using terms derived from "برأ" (to disassociate). In Al-An’am, "إنی بریء مما تشرکون" uses an adjective form indicating ongoing, stable disassociation; the tone is rational and convincing, fitting the context of Abraham’s logical arguments against idol worship. The adjacent verbs reflect "shirk" (associating partners), targeting the core belief of polytheism

Research Article Quranic Studies

Analyzing Patterns of Communicative Action in Surah Maryam Based onJürgen Habermas's Theory of Communicative Action

Pages 102-128

https://doi.org/10.22034/isqs.2026.53092.2470

Askar Babazadeh Aghdam

Abstract abstract
Jürgen Habermas’s theory of communicative action seeks to demonstrate that social conflicts should ideally be resolved without recourse to coercion or violence, and that such resolution can be achieved through dialogue and argumentation. From Habermas’s perspective, truth is an intersubjective phenomenon that manifests itself in discourse; therefore, individuals must be internally inclined toward superior and rational arguments and engage in free and rational communication in order to achieve mutual understanding. His theory consists of three main types of action: speech action, dramaturgical (expressive) action, and normative action, each of which defines specific components and criteria for establishing communication and attaining understanding.Using a descriptive–analytical method, the present study examines the interactions and dialogues found in Surah Maryam (PBUH) in light of Habermas’s theory. The findings indicate that the communicative patterns in this surah employ all three types of action. Depending on the audience, the nature of the message, and the purpose of each dialogue, various strategies such as persuasion, guidance, audience awareness, body language, and normative patterns are utilized. Dialogic communicative action occurs with greater frequency than dramaturgical and normative actions; nevertheless, the surah also contains highly significant dramaturgical actions that play a crucial role in interpreting the

Research Article Quranic Studies

Thematic Rise and Decline of Contemporary Qur’anic Interpretation: A Historical–Analytical Study of Interpretive Paradigms

Pages 129-153

https://doi.org/10.22034/isqs.2026.54215.2479

Mohsen Qasempour, Parvin Shenasvand

Abstract This article examines the concept of *contemporary (era-based) Qur’anic interpretation* (tafsīr ʿaṣrī) through a historical-analytical approach, focusing on the rise, transformation, and decline of dominant interpretive paradigms throughout the history of Qur’anic exegesis. Contemporary interpretation is understood as an interpretive approach that seeks to explain Qur’anic meanings in light of the intellectual, theological, social, and scientific conditions of each historical period. Rather than viewing interpretation as a fixed and ahistorical enterprise, this study argues that exegetical approaches have consistently emerged as contextual and ijtihād-based responses to the needs and challenges of their respective eras.
By examining major interpretive paradigms—such as Muʿtazilite rationalism, Hanbali literalism, philosophical–mystical interpretation, social reformist exegesis, literary-historical approaches, and scientific interpretation—the article demonstrates that contemporary interpretation is not a modern innovation but a recurring phenomenon deeply rooted in the history of Islamic thought. The findings highlight that shifts in theological discourse, socio-political transformations, intellectual developments, and emerging epistemological challenges have all played a decisive role in shaping exegetical trends. Ultimately, the study concludes that contemporary interpretation, when grounded in methodological rigor and respect for the Qur’an’s sacred and transhistorical nature, enhances its guiding role across time and fosters a dynamic and living engagement with revelation.

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