Quranic Exegesis

The Tafsīr department is in a unique position in that it is constantly interacting with Divine speech, which means it is constantly interacting with muʿjizāt (miracles). And the muʿjizah is at all levels, meaning that even in the ordinary, there is a flash of the extraordinary, whether it be in the way the words are recited, or how they are parsed and eventually understood.

 

Interacting with Divine speech means the possibility of interacting with Divine intent. The miraculous meanings of the Qurʾān can be elusive and fleeting but the training and work done in the department is to provide permanence to those meanings. So even though the lightning may be captured in the bottle, the eyes still need to be trained to see lightning.

 

Students participating in the esteemed Shaykh al-Hind program embark on an enlightening journey that initiates their comprehensive study of the Quran with an introductory course that spans half a semester, specifically focusing on the intricate and multifaceted domain of Quranic sciences. This foundational class meticulously surveys a diverse array of pivotal topics that include, but are not limited to, epistemology—the study of knowledge itself—revelation, and the various elements that are intricately involved in the profound process of revelation, as well as an in-depth examination of how the Quran articulates its own nature, the different types of Quranic expressions, and the major thematic concerns that permeate the text of the Quran, among other significant areas of inquiry. Furthermore, students engage with the historical context surrounding the early preservation of the Quran, delving into the contributions of prominent exegetes and exploring their various methodologies of tafsir, which are critical to understanding the text’s meanings. In conjunction with this foundational class, students are enrolled in an additional course that is dedicated to the art and technique of recitation, providing them with a practical framework through which they can learn and internalize the essential rules governing the articulation and recital of the Quranic text. This dual approach not only fosters a theoretical understanding of Quranic studies but also emphasizes the importance of practical application, thereby enriching the students’ overall educational experience. Ultimately, this comprehensive curriculum is designed to cultivate both intellectual and practical competencies in students, equipping them with the necessary tools to engage deeply with the Quran in both scholarly and devotional contexts.

 

In the subsequent academic year, specifically referred to as year 1 of the Intermediate Program, students are systematically acquainted with the intricate field of lexical tafsīr through a meticulously guided exploration of carefully selected portions of the Quran. This pivotal moment marks their inaugural exposure to the art and science of tafsīr, wherein students are encouraged to concentrate on the nuanced language and diverse expressions found within the holy text of the Quran. As an integral component of our comprehensive curriculum, there exists a pronounced emphasis on the foundational language of revelation, which is Arabic; this can be evidenced by the structure of their first-year academic program, during which a notable four out of six classes are dedicated exclusively to the study of Arabic language and literature. Recognized as the zenith of Arabic linguistic expression, the Quran necessitates the mastery of Arabic as the preliminary instrument essential for a meaningful engagement with the discipline of tafsīr. Consequently, students are meticulously introduced to the vast depth and dynamism inherent in Quranic Arabic via a structured lexical examination of the Quran, with a keen focus on the vocabulary that is unique to this sacred text. This foundational experience serves as their first encounter with the Quran’s profound yet subtly intricate meanings, which can be discerned through the lens of the Arabic language. By engaging with the language of the Quran in this manner, students not only enhance their linguistic skills but also develop a deeper appreciation for the cultural and spiritual dimensions of the text. Such an approach fosters critical thinking and analytical skills, which are essential for any serious study of Islamic texts. In essence, the program aims to cultivate a generation of scholars who are equipped to navigate the complexities of Quranic interpretation with both rigor and reverence. Ultimately, this educational journey is designed to instill a profound understanding of the Quran and its linguistic beauty, providing students with the essential tools needed for their future scholarly endeavors.

 

Subsequently, an extensive exploration into the Arabic language as presented in the Quran is undertaken through a comprehensive analysis of the syntactic framework that underpins the Quranic text, given that by this juncture, the student is presumed to have acquired a sufficient grasp of Arabic syntax, thereby enabling them to deconstruct and interpret intricate sentence constructions with a level of proficiency. This course rigorously examines the grammatical components of the Quran, which significantly aids the student in various capacities, including but not limited to the translation of the Quranic verses into other languages.These two classes open the door for a student to begin experiencing the inimitable miraculous nature of the Quran, an aspect that is primarily in its language: the words, expressions, sentence structure, stylistic devices, and impactful meanings. 

 

At this juncture, a student is prepared to engage with an introductory tafsīr text. They will devote a semester to conducting a supervised examination of a contemporary exegetical work, Ṣafwat al-Tafāsīr. Following this exposure, students momentarily disengage from the profoundly distinctive structure of the Quran to approach Quranic scholarship from an alternative perspective: thematic tafsīr. In this course, pivotal subjects of the Quran are chosen from its diverse verses to provide scholars with a comprehensive understanding of the theme as presented in the Quran, facilitating the student’s comprehension of the Quran’s discourse on a particular subject. The curriculum systematically organizes Quranic doctrines in the cognition of scholars, who will subsequently be capable of citing relevant verses for pertinent topics. The themes encompass subjects from theology, jurisprudence, ethics, social norms, economics, and more.

With an introductory familiarity with the Quranic message and an acquaintance with numerous verses and diverse themes, a scholar advances to an exhaustive examination of ʿUlūm al-Quran (Quranic sciences), an immensely extensive domain with various subfields. Subjects are broad with considerable detail encompassing the essence of the Quran, its revelation, its linguistic intricacies and style, its arrangement, its inimitability, abrogation, occasions of revelation, the modalities of recitation, principles of exegesis, etc.

Subsequently, a scholar reverts to analyzing the Quran in its original unmatchable configuration to scrutinize every term of the Quran atomistically. The text scrutinized is a seminal exegetical text: Tafsīr Jalālayn. A concise yet comprehensive composition, Tafsīr Jalālayn elucidates the Quran’s significance through an exposition of its etymology, morphology, syntax, rhetoric, synonyms, and supplementary details amassed through ḥadīth literature. In so doing – and having already comprehended the Quran’s all-encompassing discourse on pivotal themes through thematic tafsīr – a student begins to perceive the Quranic message as profoundly impactful with subjects intricately interlaced and interwoven with one another. The study of Tafsīr Jalālayn furnishes a scholar with an essential foundation to comprehend the meanings of the Quran with a principled methodology, and paves the path for him to advance his study of tafsīr from more extensive works.

The aggregate of the preceding two courses – ʿulūm al-Quran and Tafsīr Jalālayn – equips the soon-to-be scholar with principles requisite to comprehend the Quran as well as instruments that facilitate an informed preference of one interpretation over another.