The Need for a Valid Qur’anic Interpretation: The Importance of Intertextuality and the Limits of intra-Qur’anic Qur’an Text Based Methodology

By Adis Duderija, New Age Islam 7 January 2025 Introduction While traditional Islamic scholarship has often approached the Quran through an exclusively internal lens, a proper approach to Qur’anic interpretation should recognize the importance of understanding the text’s deep engagement with pre-existing cultural, religious, and literary traditions. In this essay I want to underscore the crucial role of intertextuality in Quranic hermeneutics, examining how the recognition of the Quran’s cultural and historical embeddedness enhances our understanding of its message, meaning, and enduring significance. The Nature of Quranic Intertextuality Intertextuality refers to the relationships between texts and how they shape and inform one another. In the context of the Quran, this concept encompasses its dialogues with earlier traditions, including Arabian paganism and Judeo-Christian heritage. This relationship is vital for understanding the Quran’s narrative strategies, theological assertions, and ethical prescriptions. The Quran’s reliance on the audience’s familiarity with these pre-existing narratives is crucial for understanding its discursive strategies. This presupposition of knowledge serves as a foundation for the Quranic interpretation , allowing it to convey complex ideas through familiarmotifs and concepts. A reader unfamiliar with the cultural and religious contexts of the Quran will not be able to understand the meaning of these ideas. For instance, in Surah Al-Kahf (18:9-26), the story of the People of the Cave reflects a familiar theme of resurrection and divine protection. This narrative, rooted in the cultural consciousness of the time,, serves as a moral lesson about faith and perseverance in the face of adversity. By employing familiar motifs, the Quran makes its moral lessons accessible to its intended audience. Pre-Islamic Arabian Context The Quran emerged within and responded to the religious and cultural landscape of pre-Islamic Arabia. This engagement is evident in its treatment of pagan practices and beliefs. For instance, the Quran’s critique of polytheistic worship, as seen in Surah Al-Anfal (8:37), demonstrates its active dialogue with contemporary religious practices. The text’s reference to specific figures like Abu Lahab (identity unknown if approached intra-Qur’anically- 111:1-5) and its engagement with the worship of pre-Islamic deities like Al-Lat, Al-Uzza, and Manat (53:19-20) reveal its deep rootedness in the cultural context of its time. Judeo-Christian Influences The Quran’s engagement with Judeo-Christian traditions represents another crucial dimension of its intertextuality. This relationship goes beyond mere borrowing, involving sophisticated theological dialogue and reinterpretation. For example, the Quranic presentation of Jesus and his disciples in Surah Al-Imran (3:52-53) demonstrates how the text engages with Christian narratives while reframing them within its monotheistic worldview. Similarly, the Quran’s discussion of divine revelation in Surah Al-Ma’idah (5:68) shows its complex relationship with previous scriptures. The Problem of Semantic Ambiguity One of the most significant challenges in Quranic interpretation lies in the semantic ambiguity of key terms. The text contains numerous words whose precise meanings remain subjects of scholarly debate. Terms like Abārīq (56:18), Ghislīn [69:36], Sijjīn [83:7-8], ‘Illiyyūn [83:18-19], Zaqūm (زَقُّوم) [37:62], Kalāla (كَلَالَة) [4:176], Jibt (جِبْت) [4:51], present particular challenges due to their limited attestation in pre-Islamic literature or unclear contextual determination within the Qur’an. This semantic complexity underscores the importance of considering broader linguistic and cultural contexts in interpretation. The Polysemy of Ethical Concepts The Quran’s ethical vocabulary exhibits significant polysemy, with terms taking on different meanings in various contexts. Key concepts like Jahiliyyah, Ihsan, and Taqwa demonstrate this semantic flexibility. For instance, Taqwa can signify both personal piety and broader social responsibility, depending on its context. This polysemy complicates purely text-based interpretations and necessitates consideration of the broader cultural and historical framework. The Insufficiency of Linguistic Knowledge While mastery of classical Arabic is essential for Quranic interpretation, linguistic knowledge alone proves insufficient for comprehensive understanding. The text’s rich tapestry of metaphors, allusions, and cultural references requires familiarity with the historical, social, and religious contexts that informed its composition in the first place. This limitation becomes particularly apparent when dealing with culturally specific concepts and references found throughout the Qur’an. The Problem with Text-Based Fundamentalism Text-based fundamentalist approaches often fail to appreciate the Quran’s intertextual nature, leading to rigid and potentially distorted interpretations. Such methodologies can miss the nuanced ways in which the Quran engages with and transforms pre-existing traditions. The result can be an oversimplified reading that fails to capture the text’s dynamic engagement with its cultural and historical context. Given the analysis above, a valid approach to Quranic hermeneutics must be based on its intertextuality as described above. An intertextual approach to Quranic hermeneutics offers several advantages as it: 1. Provides historical context for proper interpretation 2. Reveals sophisticated literary and rhetorical strategies 3. Illuminates the text’s engagement with contemporary debates 4. Demonstrates its dynamic adaptation of earlier traditions 5. -it can facilitate meaningful dialogue between different religious and scholarly traditions. In conclusion, the necessity for a valid Qur’anic interpretation becomes evident when considering the importance of intertextuality and the limitations of intra-Qur’anic text-based methodologies. By recognizing the Quran’s deep engagement with pre-existing cultural, religious, and literary traditions, we can enhance our understanding of its message, meaning, and enduring significance. Intertextuality, which involves the relationships between texts and how they inform one another, is crucial for unravelling the Quran’s narrative strategies, theological assertions, and ethical prescriptions. The Quran’s reliance on the audience’s familiarity with pre-existing narratives underscores the significance of understanding its cultural and historical embeddedness for a comprehensive interpretation. The Quran’s dialogues with pre-Islamic Arabian practices and Judeo-Christian traditions showcase its dynamic adaptation and reinterpretation of earlier narratives within its monotheistic worldview. However, the semantic ambiguity of key terms and the polysemy of ethical concepts pose challenges that require a broader consideration of linguistic, cultural, and historical contexts for a holistic understanding. An intertextual approach to Quranic hermeneutics not only provides historical context and reveals sophisticated literary strategies but also fosters meaningful dialogue across religious and scholarly traditions. By appreciating the Quran’s intertextual nature, we can move beyond rigid interpretations, promoting better interfaith understanding and academic collaboration. As such embracing intertextuality is essential for unlocking the Quran’s richness and complexity, enabling a more nuanced and profound engagement with its teachings and implications. ------ Checkout Dr. Adis Duderija’s personal website at: https://dradisduderija.com/ A decades old patron of New Age Islam, Dr Adis Duderija is a Senior Lecturer in the Study of Islam and Society, School of Humanities, Languages and Social Science; Senior Fellow Centre for Interfaith and Intercultural Dialogue, Griffith University | Nathan | Queensland | Australia. His forthcoming books are (co-edited) - Shame, Modesty, and Honour in Islam and Interfaith Engagement beyond the Divide (Springer) URL: https://www.newageislam.com/debating-islam/interpretation-intertextuality-intra-quranic-methodology/d/134266 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism