Qur’anic studies have adopted comparative conceptual analysis of key terms and expressions as one of their principal methodological approaches. By focusing on the central vocabulary of Qur’anic verses, this method facilitates the discovery of the underlying semantic network embedded within the text. Employing a descriptive-analytical and interdisciplinary approach, the present study examines the Qur’anic phrase “to render trusts to whom they are due” (tu’addū al-amānāt ilā ahlihā) in Verse 58 of Sūrat al-Nisāʾ from the perspectives of both Sunni and Shi‘a exegetes. As an innovative step, the exegetical findings are further analyzed in relation to contemporary sociological theories, particularly Niklas Luhmann’s theory of social differentiation and the broader discourse on social trust.
The findings reveal that the interpretations of both traditions can be classified into four principal approaches: (1) understanding amānah (trust) in its general and absolute sense; (2) interpreting trust as political authority and governance; (3) construing it as divine teachings and religious knowledge; and (4) emphasizing the identification of the rightful recipients of trust through the principle of meritocracy. An interdisciplinary analysis of these perspectives demonstrates that Verse 58 of Sūrat al-Nisāʾ, beyond merely conveying an ethical injunction, seeks to establish a “trust-based governance system” founded upon specialized meritocracy and institutional justice. Such a model offers valuable insights for understanding and addressing some of the most significant governance and social trust challenges confronting contemporary societies.