Phenomenology of the Religious Experience of Prophet Moses on Mount Ṭūr (Sinai) Using the Theoretical Framework of Rudolf Otto

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Knowledge of Islam - DaneshPh.D. candidate in Comparative Exegesis at Qom University.kada Adibat - Daneshgah Khawarizmi Tehran

2 Qom University - Faculty of Theology - Department of Quranic and Hadith Sciences

10.22091/jptr.2026.15056.3482

Abstract

The phenomenological study of religious experiences in revelatory texts necessitates a critical reassessment of Western theoretical frameworks in analyzing Quranic narratives. Rudolf Otto’s theory of the “Numinous,” which focuses on the affective dimensions of encountering the Divine, is a seminal model; however, its capacity to precisely explain revelatory accounts remains debatable. Employing an interpretive phenomenological approach, this research evaluates the efficacy of Otto’s theory in analyzing Moses’s encounter with the Divine Call at Mount Sinai and delineates how the Quranic structure of revelation diverges from Otto’s model.

Findings indicate that while Otto’s theory partially explains the emotional aspects of Moses’s experience, it faces two fundamental challenges regarding Quranic narratives: first, the “dialogical structure”; unlike Otto’s emphasis on silent encounter, Quranic revelation unfolds through direct discourse, fostering prophetic responsibility. Second, the “active agency” of the subject; rather than being a passive recipient, Moses actively shapes the revelatory event through inquiry and petition. Ultimately, the Quran elevates religious experience from “mere passivity” to a “dynamic, mission-oriented event,” transcending the classical boundaries of Otto’s phenomenology.

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Journal of Philosophical Theological Research

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 18 July 2026

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