The Hermeneutics of Zaghloul El-Naggar’s Scientific Tafsīr: The Relevance of the Concept of Barzakh (QS. Ar-Rahman: 19-20) to the Density Stratification Theory in Oceanography

Raodah Raodah, Sarwadi Sarwadi, Nur Hayati

Abstract


This study explores the relationship between the Qur'an and modern science, particularly through Zaghloul El-Naggar's tafsīr' ilmī (scientific exegesis) of the concept of barzakh in Surah Ar-Rahman: 19-20. El-Naggar correlates the Qur'anic description of the barrier between two seas with the scientific theory of density stratification in oceanography. The research employs a qualitative library research method, applying a hermeneutical framework to critically analyze the epistemological and methodological aspects of El-Naggar's interpretation. The findings reveal that while El-Naggar's approach effectively integrates scientific phenomena with religious texts, it risks oversimplifying the Qur'an’s metaphysical and theological meanings by relying too heavily on empirical validation. The study contrasts this with al-Tantawi Jawhari's more spiritual hermeneutics, which emphasizes moral and reflective aspects of natural phenomena. The research contributes to the Development of a balanced tafsīr' ilmī approach that harmonizes scientific inquiry with spiritual reflection, offering valuable insights for contemporary Islamic education and the integration of science and religion. Future research could further explore diverse tafsīr' ilmī approaches and expand the empirical scope to deepen understanding of the Qur'an’s relationship with science

Keywords


The Hermeneutics of Zaghloul El-Naggar’s, Concept of Barzakh, Density Stratification.

Full Text:

PDF

References


Alhattab, S., & Jamil, K. H. B. (2024). The Landscape of the Interplay Between Religion and Science: The Experience of Islamic Discourse. International Journal of Religion, 5(1), 253-263. https://doi.org/10.61707/ybg86c06

Amir, S., Norasid, M. A., & Hilmi, A. B. A. (2023). Scientific Studies of the Qur'ān in the Contemporary Era: An Analysis of Concept, History, and Methodology. Journal of Islamic Thought and Civilization, 13(1), 188-202. https://doi.org/10.32350/jitc.131.13

Cheng, L., Li, G., Long, S. M., Li, Y., von Schuckmann, K., Trenberth, K. E., ... & Yuan, H. (2025). Ocean Stratification in a Warming Climate. Nature Reviews Earth & Environment, 1-19. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43017-025-00715-5

Dahri, G. N. (2025). Quranic Reflections on Water Conservation: Insights for Sustainable Living. Al-Quran and Water Science, 2(1), 12-20.

Daneshgar, M. (2023). The Qurʾān and Science, Part III: Makers of the Scientific Miraculousness: With Majid Daneshgar,"The Qurʾān and Science, Part I: The Premodern Era"; Majid Daneshgar,"The Qurʾān and Science, Part II: Scientific Interpretations from North Africa to China, Bengal, and the Malay‐Indonesian World"; and Majid Daneshgar "The Qurʾān and Science, Part III: Makers of the Scientific Miraculousness." Zygon®, 58(4), 1005-1028. https://doi.org/10.1111/zygo.12930

Habibullah, I., Zubaidi, S., Chirzin, M., & Nasution, A. (2025). The Integration of Knowledge in Al-Tafsir Al-'Ilmi in Improving the Interpretation Quality of Mutashabihat Verses: An Analysis of Zaghloul Muhammad Raghib El-Naggar's Thought. QiST: Journal of Quran and Tafseer Studies, 4(1), 199-220. https://doi.org/10.23917/qist.v4i1.8732

Haider, R., Wahid, A., & Shahzad, A. (2024). The Intersection of Quran and Science: Analyzing the Methodologies of Two Contemporary Exegetes. Review Journal of Social Psychology & Social Works, 2(1), 112-138.

Hanif, S. (2024). Nature as a Reflection of God's Attributes: Islamic Contemplation of the Natural World. International Journal of the Universe and Humanity in Islamic Vision and Perspective, 1(2), 12-22.

Hathaway, W. L. (2021). Integration, Biblical Counseling, and Hermeneutics. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 49(3), 257-267. https://doi.org/10.1177/0091647121992425

Hendawi, M., Al Murshidi, G., Asrori, A., Hadi, M. F., Huda, M., & Lovat, T. (2024). The Development of Islamic Education Curriculum from the Quranic Perspective. Ar-Fachruddin: Journal of Islamic Education, 1(2), 93-123.

Jamshidi, S., & Hamzei, S. (2025). Assessment of Oceanographic Characteristics and Water Mass Exchange in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman. Deep Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography, 105503. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr2.2025.105503

Maksimovic, J., & Evtimov, J. (2023). Positivism and Post-Positivism as the Basis of Quantitative Research in Pedagogy. Research in Pedagogy, 13(1), 208-218. https://doi.org/10.5937/IstrPed2301208M

Motta, F. (2025). The Truth of the Moderns and the Deception of the Ancients: Heavenly Motions and the Biblical Hermeneutics of Paolo Antonio Foscarini. GALILAEANA, 22(1), 23-56.

Munawar, S. (2025). Exploring Scientific Exegesis (Al-Tafsīr Al-'Ilmī) of the Quran: Merits, Challenges, and Interpretive Boundaries. Journal of Religion and Society, 3(02), 414-424.

Muslih, M., & Taqiyuddin, M. (2025). The Integration of Science and Religion: Analysing Research Paradigms in Indonesian State Islamic Universities through a Lakatosian Lens. Afkar: Jurnal Akidah dan Pemikiran Islam, 27(1), 165-202.

Ruhullah, M. E., & Ushama, T. (2024). Time and Society in the Qur'an: Al-Ghazali's Integration of Ancient Wisdom into Islamic Epistemology. Islam Realitas: Journal of Islamic and Social Studies, 10(1), 62-80. https://doi.org/10.30983/islam_realitas.v10i1.8583

Samhudi, S., & Ibrahim, M. S. R. (2024). Integration of Religion and Science in the Quran: Interpretation of Surah Ar-Rahman Verses 19-20 in Tafsir An-Nur Hasby Ash-Shiddiqy. Hikmah, 21(2), 254-266. https://doi.org/10.53802/hikmah.v21i2.421

Sánchez-Garrido, J. C., & Nadal, I. (2022). The Alboran Sea Circulation and Its Biological Response: A Review. Frontiers in Marine Science, 9, 933390. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2022.933390

Supena, I. (2022). Integration of Islamic Sciences and Secular Sciences Through Spiritualization and Humanization Approaches. Hikmatuna: Journal for Integrative Islamic Studies, 8(1), 1-15. https://doi.org/10.28918/hikmatuna.v8i1.4657

Szaciłowski, K., & Pilaka, K. (2023). Is Theology an Experimental Science? Exploring the Boundaries of Empirical Enquiry and Religious Understanding. European Journal of Science and Theology, 19(6), 91-118.

Villastrigo, A., Bilton, D. T., Abellán, P., Millán, A., Ribera, I., & Velasco, J. (2022). Cryptic Lineages, Cryptic Barriers: Historical Seascapes and Oceanic Fronts Drive Genetic Diversity in Supralittoral Rockpool Beetles (Coleoptera: Hydraenidae). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 196(2), 740-756. https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlac032

Wolfson, E. R. (2025). Mundus Imaginalis and the Test of the Veil: Linear Circularity of Time in Corbin's Phenomenology of Imagination. In New Perspectives on Henry Corbin (pp. 133-166). Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-91627-4_5

Yusuf, M. S., WASKITO, S., Rohmawati, I., & Anshorullah, A. H. (2023). Samā'and Samāwāt in the Qur'an: A Thematic Study and Its Relevance to the Science of the Creation of the Sky. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL, 4(6), 1073-1081. https://doi.org/10.54660/.IJMRGE.2023.4.6.1073-1081

Zeyer, A. (2023). They Always Pretend to Have the Whole Truth-How the Epistemization of Politics Endangers Democracy, and What This May Have to Do with Scientism in School Science: An Essay and Book Review of: Bogner, A. (2021). Die Epistemisierung des Politischen. Wie die Macht des Wissens die Demokratie Gefährdet. Reclam Verlag: Stuttgard. Science Education, 107(2), 275-290. https://doi.org/10.1002/sce.21741

Zubaidi, S., Asnawi, A. R., & Amir, S. B. (2025). The Development and Challenges of Scientific Qur'anic Interpretation: A Comparative Study Between Malaysia and Indonesia. Al-Bayan: Journal of Qur'an and Hadith Studies, 23(1), 27-49. https://doi.org/10.1163/22321969-20250165




DOI: https://doi.org/10.33852/jurnalnu.v10i1.644

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Copyright (c) 2025 Raodah Raodah

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.