Mapping Neo-Modern and Postmodern Qur’ānic Reformist Discourse in the Intellectual Legacy of Fazlur Rahman and Mohammed Arkoun

Renewal and Reform have been the most discussed dominant themes of Muslim intelligentsia, as they lived through subjection greater part world by Western colonial powers during 18th 19th centuries. The intellectual discourse on reform early reformers pivoted to adoption science values struggle developing a new ilm al kalām (theology) complementary modern western ideologies. subsequent reformers, however, were more critical ideas civilization. Fazlur Rahman Mohammed Arkoun belonged later wave reformist movement 20th century are well-known trail blazers this discourse, which centered Qur’ān. This article provides insight into strategies Dr. mapping out key concepts in their discourses influence generations reformers. identified stagnant legacy sole cause downfall Civilization, caused absence Ijtihād (independent legal reasoning). In his opinion, blind imitation based precedence consensus has only created hierarchy traditional ulama (religious scholar) whose retrogressive mindset monopolized interpretation Making Qur’ān center point for reform, he advocated its rereading comprehension élan (spirit) Similarly, Arkoun, being trained postmodern literary theory, adopted post structural methods re-reading Qur’ānic text. Arkoun’s critique approach is interwoven with complex terminologies. He desacralizing text radical rethinking Islam cultural religious system. appraisal promotes philosophical perspective combination an anthropological historical approach. Both these own set advocates detractors. Undeniably, paper argues, understanding can disturb conventional prevalent belief