Disguised Commentary on the Qur'an (original) (raw)
2020, Australian Journal of Islamic Studies
Mathnawī, Jalāluddīn Rūmī's magnum opus, is among the most quoted mystico-didactic epic poems in the world. This research provides an assessment of the 13th century scholar's work as exegetical commentary on the Qur'ān. A theological approach has been adopted to identify the major teachings in the work. In this study, after a brief introduction of Rūmī and his vision of the Qur'ān, the research evaluates the Mathnawī from historical, mystical, exegetical and literary perspectives. It identifies the stories of prophets and their people in his poetic lines and provides a holistic categorisation of issues about them found also in various Qur'ānic verses as a possibility of commentary on the Qur'ān. To establish a meaningful relationship in terms of the form and content in the work, stories of prophets mentioned in the Qur'ān are analysed to facilitate comprehensive assessment. This also serves as a guide to Rūmī's interpretation of the Qur'ān. It was discovered that Rūmī, in his work, pays particular attention to the spiritual attributes of each prophet. An overall evaluation of the Mathnawī shows Rūmī not only uses Qur'ānic verses or words but also rational arguments, stories and anecdotes to drive home his commentary on the Qur'ān.
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Mathnawī, Jalāluddīn Rūmī’s magnum opus, is among the most quoted mystico-didactic epic poems in the world. This research provides an assessment of the 13th century scholar’s work as exegetical commentary on the Qur’ān. A theological approach has been adopted to identify the major teachings in the work. In this study, after a brief introduction of Rūmī and his vision of the Qur’ān, the research evaluates the Mathnawī from historical, mystical, exegetical and literary perspectives. It identifies the stories of prophets and their people in his poetic lines and provides a holistic categorisation of issues about them found also in various Qur’ānic verses as a possibility of commentary on the Qur’ān. To establish a meaningful relationship in terms of the form and content in the work, stories of prophets mentioned in the Qur’ān are analysed to facilitate comprehensive assessment. This also serves as a guide to Rūmī’s interpretation of the Qur’ān. It was discovered that Rūmī, in his work, ...
Sahl Tustarī’s (d. 283/896) Esoteric Qur’ānicCommentary and Rūmī’s Mathnawī : Part 2
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This article introduces the history and development of ʿUlūm al-Qurʾān, provides a mental map of its major disciplines, highlights its key classical contributions, and gives examples of how this field furnishes a deeper connection to the multi-layered nature of the Qur’anic text. First, we define the terms Qur’an and ʿUlūm al-Qurʾān. Second, we introduce some classical masterpieces in the field. Third, we introduce and elaborate on Imam al-Bulqīnī’s taxonomy of 50 Qur’anic sub-disciplines grouped in six categories: 1) circumstances of revelation, 2) transmission, 3) phonetics and elocution, 4) rhetorical devices, 5) interpretive principles, and 6) rhetorical styles.
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