Celestial Discourse or Terrestrial Context? A Methodological and Theological Analysis of Two Exegetical Traditions in Explaining the Occasion of Revelation of Qur’an 2:285

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Postdoctoral researcher in Quran and Hadith sciences, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad (researcher at the Astan Quds Razavi Research Foundation), contact number: 09142353876, reza.mollazadehyamchi@alumni.um.ac.ir

10.22034/rtmr.2025.2067494.1096
Abstract
In the Islamic exegetical tradition, the explanation of the occasion of revelation (Sha’n al-Nuzūl) of Verse 2:285 of Surah Al-Baqarah oscillates between two distinct narratives: one situating it within a "Celestial Discourse" during the Night Journey (Mi’rāj), and the other presenting it as a response to a "Terrestrial Context" involving the Companions' anxiety over arduous obligations. Adopting a "case study" approach and comparative content analysis, this research moves beyond mere chain-of-transmission criticism to analyze the logic behind the exegetes' preference in selecting one of these two contexts. Findings indicate that this divergence reflects two hermeneutical and theological patterns in encountering the sacred text: "Context-oriented" exegetes, by prioritizing the structural order of the Surah, interpret the revelation as a "Situational Occasion of Revelation" (a response to a historical crisis), thereby arriving at a "Theology of Interaction." Conversely, "Narrative-Esoteric" exegetes, by granting primacy to specific traditions (Akhbār), view it as a "Positional Occasion of Revelation" (signifying a meta-historical status), formulating a "Theology of Glorification." The novelty of this study lies in the genealogy of these two paradigms and demonstrating that this duality is not a sign of contradiction, but a testament to the text's dual function in simultaneously addressing "humanity's historical anxiety" and "God's celestial grace.

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Volume 2, Issue 4
Winter 2025
Pages 1-16

  • Receive Date 30 July 2025
  • Revise Date 13 December 2025
  • Accept Date 14 December 2025