Ibn ʻArabī

The comprehensiveness of the Qur'an (Jami'ῑyyat al-Qur'an) is one of the fundamental topics in Qur'anic studies. Muslim scholars from the past to the present have explained this principle by focusing on Qur'anic verses and narrations from both Sunni and Shi'a sources (Farῑqayn). Some, by proposing comparative comprehensiveness, believe that the Qur'an, as the last revealed book, is comprehensive compared to other divine books. Some have chosen maximum comprehensiveness, considering the Qur'an to encompass all sciences and arts. Others, by expressing minimal comprehensiveness, have limited the Qur'an's comprehensiveness to ethical and moral issues. Some, accepting moderate comprehensiveness, have introduced the Qur'an as a guide for humans in material and spiritual matters. This research, using a descriptive-analytical method, has comparatively explored the comprehensiveness of the Qur'an from the perspectives of Ibn ʻArabī and Imam Khomeini. The research findings show that both great Islamic thinkers, while accepting comparative comprehensiveness and rejecting minimal comprehensiveness, have proposed a new view titled "the Qur'an's comprehensiveness according to the understanding of its audience," which explains the secret of the Qur'an's timelessness in every era and place. The point of difference between Ibn ʻArabī and Imam Khomeini's views is that Ibn ʻArabī accepts maximum comprehensiveness, referring to the Qur'an's verses indicating past and future sciences, while in Imam Khomeini's thought, the Qur'an is a book of guidance and human development, and references to generalities and established material sciences in Qur'anic verses are for the purpose of human education and guidance.