Examining the principles and rules of interpretation of Ayatollah Khamenei

One of the important areas in Quranic exegetical studies is the study of the principles and rules of interpretation. These principles may refer to the origin of the verses or the semantic implications of the Quranic text. The rules of interpretation are general principles and criteria that are used as tools for inferring the teachings of the Quran and are, in fact, kubras that are applied to specific instances. The author has addressed this issue because the scholarly personality and interpretive capacity of Ayatollah Khamenei have so far been less independently studied in scientific research. In this article, using a descriptive-analytical method, he identifies and precisely explains his principles and rules of interpretation. The findings indicate that the authority of appearances plays an important role in his interpretation. Among his most important interpretive principles are the possibility and permissibility of understanding the Quran, the authority of appearances, the restrictiveness of the arrangement of verses, the purpose of the surah, the categorization of verses, the multiplicity of meanings of words, the authority of readings, the prohibition of interpretation based on opinion, interpretation, application, comparison, and context.