The Influence of Qur’anic Context on the Determination of Pronoun Antecedents According to Ibn Al-Qayyim: An Applied Study on Selected Excerpts from his Tafsir 10.35781/1637-000-164-001

Abstract

Abstract:

Third-person pronouns occur together in certain Qur’anic verses, and in such cases they require an interpretive referent that clarifies what they refer to, through which the intended meaning becomes clear. Qur’anic exegetes have adopted various approaches in determining whether these referents are unified or distinct, and such variation consequently leads to differences in the interpretation of the verse. One of the most prominent methods employed in this regard is the Qur’anic context. Ibn al-Qayyim relied on contextual evidence to support and prefer his interpretations in a number of issues. This study examines that approach through selected Qur’anic verses interpreted and analyzed by Ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyyah in diverse fields such as theology, jurisprudence, and Qur’anic narratives, in order to identify his methodology in dealing with this principle. In these examples, he used Qur’anic context as evidence for the unity of pronoun referents and to clarify the intended meaning of the verse accordingly.

The study consists of an introduction containing a brief biography of Ibn al-Qayyim, an explanation of the meanings of pronouns, context, and pronoun referents, as well as their significance in Ibn al-Qayyim’s interpretive method, followed by three sections:

1. Theological issues.


2. Jurisprudential rulings.


3. Qur’anic narratives.

The study also presents the opinions of Qur’anic exegetes concerning the passages under discussion, together with an explanation of the interpretive implications resulting from their disagreement regarding pronoun referents. The conclusion summarizes the main findings and recommendations.

The study concludes that Ibn al-Qayyim, in his interpretive preferences and selections, generally agreed with the views of the early Muslim generations (al-salaf) and the majority of exegetes—according to the interpretations surveyed in this research—with the exception of his interpretation in the story of Joseph, where he maintained that the Qur’anic statement: ﱡﭐ  ﳒ  ﳓ ﳔ ﳕ ﳖ ﳗ ﱠ forms part of the speech of the wife of al-ʿAzīz. This opinion differs from the views of the early generations and the earlier scholars of Qur’anic exegesis.

And Allah alone grants success and guidance.

Keywords: Context, pronoun referent, Ibn al-Qayyim.