Research Article

An Examination of the Different Interpretations of the Concept of Caliphate in Sunni and Shi'i Tafsirs in Four Qur'anic Verses

Volume: 9 Number: 2 December 15, 2025
TR EN

An Examination of the Different Interpretations of the Concept of Caliphate in Sunni and Shi'i Tafsirs in Four Qur'anic Verses

Abstract

The discourse surrounding the caliphate provides a critical lens through which to examine the conceptual foundations of power, authority, and legitimacy within Islamic intellectual tradition. This debate has engendered divergent hermeneutical and theological approaches concerning the interpretation of scriptural texts, the mechanisms of communal consensus, and the principles underpinning political legitimacy. This study undertakes a comparative analysis of the exegetical treatments of four Qur’anic verses within Sunni and Shi‘i scholarly literature to elucidate the theological and jurisprudential dimensions of the caliphate. Employing qualitative methodology, the research adopts a document-based analytical framework, with primary sources selected through purposive sampling to ensure methodological rigor. The findings demonstrate that both Sunni and Shi‘i scholarly traditions engage with the question of succession through the lens of divine designation (naṣṣ), albeit with fundamentally differing theological presuppositions. Sunni exegetes predominantly invoke the Irtidād verse (Q 5:51) and the Ṣiddīq verse (Q 4:69) as textual evidence in support of their positions, whereas Shi‘i scholars anchor their arguments in the Wilāyah verse (Q 5:55) and the Tablīgh verse (Q 5:67). A close reading of these exegetical traditions reveals that each school interprets these verses through distinct hermeneutical frameworks, resulting in divergent conclusions regarding rightful succession: Sunni scholarship prioritizes the legitimacy of Abū Bakr, while Shi‘i scholarship asserts the exclusive right of ‘Alī. This analysis underscores the necessity of contextualizing early Islamic historical developments, suggesting that the socio-political contingencies of the formative period remain indispensable to a nuanced understanding of the caliphate debate.

Keywords

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Islamic Sects, Islamic Studies (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Early Pub Date

December 12, 2025

Publication Date

December 15, 2025

Submission Date

January 7, 2025

Acceptance Date

September 30, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 9 Number: 2

APA
Büyükarslan, B. M. (2025). An Examination of the Different Interpretations of the Concept of Caliphate in Sunni and Shi’i Tafsirs in Four Qur’anic Verses. Journal of Analytic Divinity, 9(2), 122-135. https://doi.org/10.46595/jad.1615288
AMA
1.Büyükarslan BM. An Examination of the Different Interpretations of the Concept of Caliphate in Sunni and Shi’i Tafsirs in Four Qur’anic Verses. JAD. 2025;9(2):122-135. doi:10.46595/jad.1615288
Chicago
Büyükarslan, Bürhan Mustafa. 2025. “An Examination of the Different Interpretations of the Concept of Caliphate in Sunni and Shi’i Tafsirs in Four Qur’anic Verses”. Journal of Analytic Divinity 9 (2): 122-35. https://doi.org/10.46595/jad.1615288.
EndNote
Büyükarslan BM (December 1, 2025) An Examination of the Different Interpretations of the Concept of Caliphate in Sunni and Shi’i Tafsirs in Four Qur’anic Verses. Journal of Analytic Divinity 9 2 122–135.
IEEE
[1]B. M. Büyükarslan, “An Examination of the Different Interpretations of the Concept of Caliphate in Sunni and Shi’i Tafsirs in Four Qur’anic Verses”, JAD, vol. 9, no. 2, pp. 122–135, Dec. 2025, doi: 10.46595/jad.1615288.
ISNAD
Büyükarslan, Bürhan Mustafa. “An Examination of the Different Interpretations of the Concept of Caliphate in Sunni and Shi’i Tafsirs in Four Qur’anic Verses”. Journal of Analytic Divinity 9/2 (December 1, 2025): 122-135. https://doi.org/10.46595/jad.1615288.
JAMA
1.Büyükarslan BM. An Examination of the Different Interpretations of the Concept of Caliphate in Sunni and Shi’i Tafsirs in Four Qur’anic Verses. JAD. 2025;9:122–135.
MLA
Büyükarslan, Bürhan Mustafa. “An Examination of the Different Interpretations of the Concept of Caliphate in Sunni and Shi’i Tafsirs in Four Qur’anic Verses”. Journal of Analytic Divinity, vol. 9, no. 2, Dec. 2025, pp. 122-35, doi:10.46595/jad.1615288.
Vancouver
1.Bürhan Mustafa Büyükarslan. An Examination of the Different Interpretations of the Concept of Caliphate in Sunni and Shi’i Tafsirs in Four Qur’anic Verses. JAD. 2025 Dec. 1;9(2):122-35. doi:10.46595/jad.1615288

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