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

Authors : Bürhan Mustafa Büyükarslan

Pages : 122-135

Doi:10.46595/jad.1615288

View : 126 | Download : 318

Publication Date : 2025-12-15

Article Type : Research Paper

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 : Hz. Ali, Hz. Ebu Bekir, İmamet, Hilafet, Nas

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