A study of cosmological verses in Tantawi Jawhari's al-Jawāhir in the context of the scientific tafsir tradition

This study focuses on the Egyptian exegete Tantawi Jawhari (d. 1940), who holds a significant place among modern attempts to interpret Qur'anic verses in the light of scientific knowledge. The main research problem centers on Jawhari's efforts in his work al-Jawāhir fī Tafsīr al-Qur'ān al-Karīm to interpret verses related to cosmology based on scientific data, as well as the position and validity of this approach within the discipline of tafsir. The interpretation of the Qur'an through scientific data has been subject to methodological and epistemological debates from various perspectives. The changeable nature of scientific knowledge, the risk of limiting the Qur'an's interpretive scope to the scientific assumptions of a particular period, and the potential tension between such interpretations and the traditional, text-centered tafsir approach constitute the main points of contention. On the other hand, it is argued that relating the Qur'an's cosmic verses (āyāt kawniyya) to contemporary scientific insights makes their meanings more accessible in a modern context and encourages reflection. The study is based on a systematic analysis of the cosmological verses in al-Jawāhir, within the framework of approaches that aim to interpret the Qur'an through scientific data. In this context, the research employs a qualitative methodology using document analysis. Jawhari's use of scientific terminology, referenced sources, conceptual framework, and thematic structure have been examined in detail. Themes such as cosmic creation, the expansion of the universe, the structure of the heavens, the role of mountains in balance, and the dissolution of cosmological laws have been analyzed. His exegetical approach has been evaluated comparatively with both contemporary cosmological findings and interpretations offered by other exegetes affiliated with the scientific tafsir tradition. Accordingly, the study aims to present alternative readings of the relevant verses in light of scientific knowledge. Jawhari's interpretations are not limited to the scientific developments of his own time but also show considerable alignment with modern cosmological perspectives. Nevertheless, certain explanations require reconsideration in light of current scientific findings. This indicates that attempts to interpret the Qur'an through scientific data are not static but instead reflect a dynamic and evolving process. Jawhari's approach offers a significant foundation for subsequent research in terms of both methodology and content. Keywords: Scientific Exegesis, Tantawi Jawhari, al-Jawāhir, Cosmology, Religion and Science