Theoretical perspectives on Ṭabāṭabāʾī’s constructional conceptions: Islamic tradition and modernity in the Iranian context

Abstract

The discourse surrounding Islamic tradition and modernity has remained a critical issue in Iran, even following the Islamic Revolution of 1979. This debate has permeated seminaries, sparking considerable engagement among clerics and intellectuals. Seyyed Mohammad Hossein Ṭabāṭabāʾī, a preeminent contemporary Qur’ānic commentator and a key figure in the revival of philosophical thought in Iran’s seminaries, stands at the center of this discourse with his theory of Constructional Conceptions (Idrākāt ʿitibārī). This article briefly introduces Ṭabāṭabāʾī and his theory, then analyzes three prominent interpretations of his constructional conceptions within Iran’s intellectual community. While critical of materialist, colonial, and atheistic elements of Western thought, Ṭabāṭabāʾī’s moderate approach has opened pathways for dialogue between Islamic tradition and modernity. His emphasis on the rational and social dimensions of Islam, coupled with his intellectual openness to diverse traditions, has promoted a form of intellectual pluralism, a vital aspect for Muslim-majority societies engaging with modernity.