Volume 13 deals with the topic “Hermeneutics of the Word”. For us, hermeneutics is more a becoming, than a mere understanding. It is the special way in which a religiously handed down text (a revelation or tradition) becomes the reason for the further development of the human being. Although the text has language, it acquires a dimension of existence through the hermeneutical event, i.e. through perception, and sets in motion a process of development so that the text (in our sense the Holy Quran) does not remain only a letter, but becomes spirit and life. In this way, the Holy Quran and its contents become present to the reader and so the story no longer remains something past, but they become the Here and Now.

Shiite thinking summarizes the form and content of the Quran as follows: The Quran is the Holy Scripture of Shia Islam. It contains monotheistic contents, religious laws and their commandments. His verses were inspired to the Prophet Muhammad (s) by the angel Gabriel and have been preserved in their original form, in the purest Arabic, unadulterated. This revelation was revealed either individually, verse by verse, or as a whole over the last 23 years (thirteen years in Mecca and ten years in Medina).

Since the Holy Quran is an apparition of the sublime Creator, it remains eternally valid for life and action. Therefore, we read in the Koran: “Falsehood cannot come close to it, neither from the front nor from the back. It is a revelation from an all-wise, praiseworthy one.”  (Holy Quran 41:42) The reason for this is a divine guarantee: “Verily, We, We Ourselves have sent down this admonition (the Quran), and surely We will be its guardian.” (Holy Quran 15:9)

The more the “readers of the Word” think about the verses of the Quran, the greater the benefit from it, the greater is the reverence and faith of man. Therefore, among men, the prophet was the one who was most humble before the exalted Creator and had shown the deepest reverence for him, because among them he was the reader who pondered the words of God the Exalted most thoroughly and perceived them as a divine miracle.

But it is not possible for everyone to find their way in the seas of life conflicts and become a “reader of the word”. You should have learned it, and for that you need training: a methodology. Here is proposed a methodology of reading that is indispensable for dialogue with the Word of God: this methodology, however, seeks the perception of the reader partner, and in this context the reciprocity of listening to one another is decisive.

This should be taken seriously, as it is possible within the framework of thinking development. This methodology consists first of all in listening, reading for a long time, how revelation is articulated in response to certain questions and in response to certain arguments. Reading also needs to be learned; it requires openness, concentration, discipline and a methodically guided technique. As a result, understanding, which comes much later, will turn out to be an art of perception.

The deeper the reader delves into the Quran, the more sustainably he gets to know his own world. Those who know the world - as well as their own - better: read, understand and tell better. In this way, the Quranic texts are heard and interpreted by the reader or listener from his own heart and horizon of experience. He can experience “the same” as the recipient of the Word. If this “equality” can be established in a well-founded way, reading will take place with one’s whole being and as reflection and perception on the individual, social and global level.