Dialogical Analysis of the Chronology of Revelation of the Qur’an from the Perspective of Classical Theory and Modern Theory

Abstract

This article aims to present a dialogical analysis between classical and modern perspectives on the chronology of revelation, by examining the epistemological foundations of each theory, the operational methods used, and the hermeneutical implications that arise. Through a library research approach with a descriptive-comparative analysis method, this study finds that from an epistemological standpoint, the classical perspective relies on the authority of reports, while the modern perspective depends on textual analysis and historical context as sources of knowledge. From the perspective of operational methods, the classical perspective uses naskh, asbāb al-nuzūl, and the Meccan-Medinan classification as main tools, while the modern perspective develops stylistic, historical, and more detailed periodization analyses in reconstructing the chronology of revelation. As for hermeneutical implications, the classical perspective tends to produce readings that are normative and tradition-oriented, whereas the modern perspective encourages readings that are more historical and contextual. Therefore, the dialogue between the two shows that the integration of narration and critical analysis is the most productive approach to understanding the chronology of revelation comprehensively without neglecting the theological or historical dimensions of the Qur’an.