The idea
The claim explains the historical rejection of applying the historical method to the Qur’an through political and psychological factors. The meaning is that the objection was not purely epistemic, but was tied to fear for symbolic authority and to a psychological reluctance to disturb what is familiar. Thus, this rejection appears here as a defensive stance that protects certainty more than it opens the door to understanding.
Concise formulation
Historical rejection of the historical method applied to the Qur’an ← explained by political and psychological factors
Its place in the book’s argument
This statement occupies a central place in the book’s argument because it justifies the need for historical reading itself. When the historical question is barred, discussion of meaning can no longer take place openly. The text therefore places this rejection within a network of interests and fears, to show that knowledge is not separate from its social conditions.
Why it matters
Its importance lies in the fact that it reveals why the subject of the Qur’an is so sensitive in modern debate. If the objection is the product of non-epistemic factors alone, then the dialogue is not about the text alone but about the authority that guards its interpretation. This helps in understanding Arkoun’s project as a dismantling of the barriers that prevent questioning.
Brief evidence
The claim explains the historical rejection of applying the historical method to the Qur’an through political and psychological factors. The objection was not purely epistemic, but was linked to fear for symbolic authority and to a psychological reluctance to disturb what is familiar. Thus, this rejection appears as a defensive stance that protects certainty more than it opens the door to understanding.
Reading questions
- What makes the rejection seem political and psychological rather than merely epistemic?
- How does this interpretation change the nature of the dialogue about the Qur’an?
Documentation level
High: the claim appears in a clear location in the book’s material.