Abdolkarim Soroush on Qur’an and/as Revelation

By Adis Duderija, New Age Islam 2 April 2025 Among the influential voices contributing important insights into the question of nature of Qur’an and the concept of revelation is Abdolkarim Soroush, an Iranian philosopher teaching in the United States. Like that of Abu Zayd , Soroush’s work moves beyond the conventional view of revelation as a static, external transmission, emphasising instead the pivotal role of Muhammad’s lived experience and its unfolding nature in this process. (Photo Credit: From Files) Soroush’s intellectual endeavour emerges from a conviction that a static and purely metaphysical understanding of revelation often struggles to provide meaningful guidance in a world characterised by rapid change and increasing complexity. He recognises that in societies where religious tradition holds significant sway, an uncritical acceptance of inherited notions of revelation can inadvertently stifle intellectual dynamism and impede necessary adaptations in religious understanding. At the heart of Soroush’s challenge to traditionalist Islam lies his emphasis on religious experience as the defining characteristic of prophethood. Drawing inspiration from figures like al-Ghazali, Soroush argues that prophets are primarily recognized not by their ability to perform miracles, but by the depth and transformative power of their personal encounters with the divine. He posits that the prophecy of Muhammad, like that of other prophets, is fundamentally rooted in a profound and unique individual human experience. This perspective shifts the focus from a purely external act of divine dictation to an internal, transformative event within the Prophet’s consciousness, highlighting the human dimension in the reception of revelation. Building on this foundation, Soroush introduces the crucial concept of the expansion of prophetic experience. He contends that the Prophet’s revelatory experiences were not static and unchanging but rather subject to growth, development, and deepening over the course of his prophetic mission. Drawing on historical accounts and the insights of thinkers like Ibn Khaldun and Shah Wali Allah, Soroush illustrates how the Prophet’s capacity to bear and understand revelation gradually increased. This dynamic view of revelation challenges the notion of a monolithic and instantaneously complete divine message, suggesting instead an unfolding vision that interacted with the Prophet’s evolving understanding and the unfolding circumstances of his mission. Furthermore, Soroush posits the idea of the continuity of revelation in a broader sense. While acknowledging the finality of prophethood in terms of the emergence of new religions, he argues that the religious experience and the process of understanding divine truths are not confined solely to prophets but can continue, albeit in different forms and degrees, within the community of believers. This resonates with mystical traditions and theological perspectives that emphasize the ongoing possibility of encountering the divine and deepening religious understanding through spiritual practice and engagement with the sacred texts. A cornerstone of Soroush’s framework is the distinction between the “essentials” (jawāhir) and “accidentals” (ʿawāriḍ) of religion. He argues that the core, unchanging aspects of Islam are those related to the fundamental spiritual and ethical principles revealed through the Prophet’s experience, such as the oneness of God, the importance of justice, and compassion. In contrast, the “accidentals” refer to the historically contingent socio-legal rules and cultural expressions of religion that arose in response to the specific context of seventh-century Arabia. This distinction is pivotal for rethinking traditionalist Islam’s approach to the Qur’an and its legal pronouncements. Moreover, Soroush emphasises the inherently historical and contextual nature of religious experience and, consequently, revelation. For him the Prophet’s encounter with the divine, while transcendent in its origin, was also mediated through his human consciousness, shaped by his cultural background, linguistic abilities, and the specific challenges and opportunities he faced. Recognizing this historical situatedness is crucial for interpreting the Qur’an in a way that remains relevant and just in contemporary contexts. Traditionalist Islam, which often emphasizes the timelessness and direct applicability of every verse, needs to grapple with the implications of this historical grounding for its interpretive methodologies. Soroush also underscores the dynamic and evolving nature of religious knowledge. He argues that our understanding of religion, including the Qur’an, is not static but is subject to change and development as human knowledge in various fields’ progresses. This perspective challenges the notion of a fixed and complete understanding of Islam held by any particular historical era or group. It suggests that traditionalist Islam should be open to re-examining inherited interpretations in light of new knowledge and evolving ethical considerations, fostering a continuous process of intellectual engagement with the sacred texts. Soroush’s emphasis on the ongoing possibility of deepening religious understanding and the evolving nature of religious knowledge can revitalise intellectual discourse within traditionalist circles, encouraging critical engagement with inherited interpretations and fostering new insights. Importantly, Soroush’s ideas about the diversity of religious experiences and the historically conditioned nature of certain Qur’anic pronouncements can foster a more inclusive and pluralistic understanding of religious truth, both within Islam and in relation to other faith traditions. In conclusion, Abdolkarim Soroush’s approach to the idea of Qur’an as revelation and presents a compelling call for traditionalist Islam to embark on a vital process of intellectual renewal. By shifting the focus from a purely external and static model of divine communication to one that emphasises the centrality of Muhammad’s unfolding religious experience Soroush offers a pathway towards a more intellectually robust, socially relevant, and globally engaged Islam. ----- Checkout Dr. Adis Duderija’s personal website at: https://dradisduderija.com/ A decades old patron of New Age Islam, Dr Adis Duderija is a Senior Lecturer in the Study of Islam and Society, School of Humanities, Languages and Social Science; Senior Fellow Centre for Interfaith and Intercultural Dialogue, Griffith University | Nathan | Queensland | Australia. His forthcoming books are (co-edited) - Shame, Modesty, and Honour in Islam and Interfaith Engagement beyond the Divide (Springer) URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islamic-ideology/abdolkarim-soroush-quran-revelation/d/135038 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism