UNLOCKING THE COVENANT IN THE QUR’AN: THE PLACE OF Ṭāhā ʿAbd al-Raḥmān`s TRUSTEESHIP MORAL THEORY

Abstract

The concept of the covenant has long held a central place in the Islamic exegetical tradition, serving as a theological and moral cornerstone in numerous Qur'anic interpretations. In modern thought, this notion has been reinterpreted by philosophers such as Taha Abdurrahman, who builds a moral theory rooted in the covenant as the foundation of ethical responsibility. It is therefore important to explore the ethical dimensions of the covenant and how it has been understood in both classical and modern scholarship. To gain a comprehensive understanding of the covenant and its interpretations, a range of exegetes (mufassirūn) with diverse epistemological approaches have been consulted. Accordingly, the study focuses on: (a) the terminology and Qur’anic verses related to the covenant; (b) the interpretation of these verses by classical and modern exegetes and how they understood its ethical and theological dimensions; and (c) an in-depth analysis of Taha Abdurrahman’s Trusteeship Paradigm. The thesis concludes that the covenant in Islamic thought is not merely a theological construct, but a deeply embedded ethical framework that shapes moral selfhood and responsibility. Through Taha Abdurrahman’s trusteeship paradigm, the covenant emerges as an ontological foundation for ethical agency, redefining the human being as a witness, trustee, and transmitter of divine meaning founded in spiritual accountability.

Date of Award	2025
Original language	American English
Awarding Institution	HBKU College of Islamic Studies