| No Preconceived Ideas | Approach text without imposing external beliefs or predetermined conclusions | Let the text speak for itself; avoid reading modern concepts or personal biases into verses |
| Textual Evidence Required | Every interpretation must have clear connection to the actual words/phrases | Interpretations must point to specific Arabic terms, grammatical structures, or linguistic features |
| Context Priority | Consider immediate verse context, chapter context, and Quranic context as a whole | Check surrounding verses, the surah's themes, and related passages elsewhere in Quran |
| Language Primacy | Arabic linguistic analysis is fundamental | Examine root words, morphology, classical Arabic usage, and linguistic patterns |
| Internal Consistency | Quran interprets itself - related verses clarify each other | Cross-reference similar topics and themes throughout the Quran |
| Historical Context | Consider circumstances of revelation (asbab al-nuzul) when reliably known | Use authenticated historical reports, but don't let them override clear textual meaning |
| Clear Before Ambiguous | Muhkam (clear) verses guide understanding of mutashabih (ambiguous) ones | Start with explicit, unambiguous verses as foundation for interpreting less clear passages |
| Holistic Reading | Avoid isolating verses from overall Quranic message | Consider how interpretation fits with Quran's major themes and objectives |
| Semantic Field Analysis | Study how Quran uses specific terms throughout | Track usage patterns of key words across different contexts |
| Grammar & Syntax | Precise attention to Arabic grammatical structures | Analyze sentence construction, word order, particles, and their interpretive implications |