Qur'ānic Exegesis and Thematic Coherence
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by University of Wales Trinity Saint David Qur’ānic Exegesis and Thematic Coherence: Comparing the Approaches of Amr Khālid and Amīn Iṣlāḥī A Thesis Submitted to the University of Wales, Trinity Saint David In Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Award of Master Degree 2013 Shazad Khalid Student Number: 29001187 Page 1 of 90 Master’s Degrees by Examination and Dissertation Declaration Form. 1. This work has not previously been accepted in substance for any degree and is not being concurrently submitted in candidature for any degree. Signed: Shazad Khalid Date: 1 September 2013 2. This dissertation is being submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of MA Islamic Studies Signed: Shazad Khalid Date: 1 September 2013 3. This dissertation is the result of my own independent work/investigation, except where otherwise stated. Other sources are acknowledged by footnotes giving explicit references. A bibliography is appended. Signed: Shazad Khalid Date: 1 September 2013 4. I hereby give consent for my dissertation, if accepted, to be available for photocopying, inter- library loan, and for deposit in the University’s digital repository Signed: Shazad Khalid Date: 1 September 2013 Supervisor’s Declaration. I am satisfied that this work is the result of the student’s own efforts. Signed: ………………………………………………………………………….. Date: ……………………………………………………………………………... Page 2 of 90 Acknowledgements May my family be rewarded for their patience during my study. Page 3 of 90 Contents Page ABSTRACT ............................................................................................................................................. 6 SYSTEM OF TRANSLITERATION .............................................................................................................. 7 CONSONANTS .............................................................................................................................................. 8 VOWELS AND DIPHTHONGS ............................................................................................................................ 9 CHAPTER 1 - INTRODUCTION TO STUDY AND METHODOLOGY ............................................................10 BACKGROUND AND RESEARCH PROBLEM ........................................................................................................ 10 RESEARCH QUESTIONS ................................................................................................................................ 11 METHODOLOGY ......................................................................................................................................... 11 STRUCTURE OF THE THESIS ........................................................................................................................... 12 CHAPTER 2 - INTRODUCTION TO THE QUR’ĀN, ITS EXEGESIS AND APPROACHES .................................14 THE QUR’ĀN: ITS RELEVANCE AND COMPILATION ............................................................................................. 14 DEFINITION OF QUR’ĀNIC EXEGESIS ............................................................................................................... 15 EXEGETICAL TYPOLOGIES .............................................................................................................................. 15 A Traditional Classification ............................................................................................................... 15 A Modern Classification .................................................................................................................... 16 CHAPTER 3 - INTRODUCTION TO THEMATIC COMMENTARY (TAFSĪR MAWḌŪ‘Ī) .................................19 DEFINITIONS OF THEMATIC COMMENTARY ...................................................................................................... 19 HISTORY OF THEMATIC COMMENTARY ........................................................................................................... 20 Classical Period ................................................................................................................................. 20 Time of the Prophet and Companions ..........................................................................................................20 Developments in the Sciences of the Qur’ān (‘Ulūm al-Qur’ān) ...................................................................21 Isolated Qur’ānic Themes .............................................................................................................................21 Objectives of the Qur’ān and Islamic Law (Maqāṣid al-Sharī‘āh) ..................................................................22 Interconnections between Verses ................................................................................................................22 Dominant Themes of Surahs .........................................................................................................................23 Objectives of Surahs .....................................................................................................................................24 Modern Period .................................................................................................................................. 24 Thematic Incoherence of the Qur’ān ............................................................................................................24 Isolated Themes of the Qur’ān .....................................................................................................................25 Dominant Themes of the Qur’ān ..................................................................................................................25 Dominant Themes of a Surah .......................................................................................................................26 Unity of Surah: Seeking its Overall Objective ................................................................................................28 Surah Groups ................................................................................................................................................29 Stylistic Approaches to Qur’ānic Coherence .................................................................................................30 CONCLUSION ............................................................................................................................................. 31 CHAPTER 4 - LIFE SKETCH OF AMĪN IṢLĀḤĪ AND AMR KHĀLID ..............................................................33 AMR KHĀLID ............................................................................................................................................. 33 Influence ........................................................................................................................................... 33 Birth and major life events ................................................................................................................ 34 Major works ...................................................................................................................................... 35 AMĪN IṢLĀḤĪ .............................................................................................................................................. 36 Influence ........................................................................................................................................... 36 Birth and major life events ................................................................................................................ 36 Major Works ..................................................................................................................................... 37 CHAPTER 5 – THEMATIC EXEGESIS OF AMR KHĀLID .............................................................................39 SURAH UNITY ............................................................................................................................................ 39 THE SURAH GOAL ....................................................................................................................................... 39 Internality ......................................................................................................................................... 41 The Thematic Verse (Āyah Miḥwariyyah) .....................................................................................................41 Frequency of Words......................................................................................................................................43 Surah Division ...............................................................................................................................................43 Verse Selection .............................................................................................................................................44 Intertextuality ...............................................................................................................................................45 Page 4 of 90 Ambiguous Interpretations ...........................................................................................................................46 Externality ........................................................................................................................................