Recently, Qur’anic studies have increasingly focused on the role of discourses as non-cognitive (subconscious) factors influencing the understanding and interpretation of Qur’anic verses. Scholars often regard discourses as a force driving semantic differences and exegetical transformations across history. However, the impact of discourses on cases where exegetical opinions exhibit similarity and unity has remained largely unexplored.
This study examines the reading of governmental conflict (Tadafu‘ Hukumi) regarding the Qur’anic phrase "Wa Lawla Daf‘ Allah Al-Nas Ba‘dahum Bi-Ba‘d," aiming to demonstrate that discourses not only play a pivotal role in exegetical transformations but also contribute to the emergence and propagation of unified interpretations over time. The primary objective is to explore the role of discourses in shaping unified exegetical readings throughout history.
This research seeks to answer three key questions: First, when did the governmental conflict reading of the studied phrase first emerge? Second, in which historical periods did this interpretation gain traction among exegetes? Third, what factors contributed to the emergence and dissemination of this unified reading over different epochs?
Given the centrality of content analysis in this research, the chosen methodology is discourse analysis, which fundamentally examines the context in which a text is produced, its audience, and its creator. The term "discourse analysis" was first introduced by Zellig Harris in 1952 in the field of linguistics. Although initially confined to linguistic studies, discourse analysis has evolved into a qualitative methodology widely employed in social sciences and humanities. It extends beyond lexical description to uncover underlying linguistic patterns, exploring the relationship between language, society, and situational contexts.
The findings of this study indicate that the recurrence of a specific interpretation across distinct historical periods does not necessarily signify the continuity of a single discourse but may instead stem from the influence of differing discourses over time. A notable example is the governmental conflict interpretation of the phrase "Wa Lawla Daf‘ Allah Al-Nas Ba‘dahum Bi-Ba‘d," which has evolved under various political and social conditions throughout history.