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The Prophetic Sīrah as a Criterion for Exegetical Criticism: A New Approach to Examining al‑Ālūsī’s Views on the Verses of Completion and the Cave
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Fereshteh Taghizadeh Chimeh   , Mohammad Reza Shahroodi1 , Maryam Haj Abdolbaghi |
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Abstract: (10 Views) |
| As the principal source for understanding Islam, Qur’anic exegesis has always required systematic criteria to distinguish between sound and unsound interpretations. While text‑centered and hermeneutical approaches have largely dominated exegetical criticism, the role of the Prophetic sīrah as an evaluative framework has received comparatively little attention. Employing a descriptive‑analytical method, this study critically examines al‑Ālūsī’s interpretation of the verses of the “Completion of Religion” (Q 5:3) and the “Cave” (Q 9:40) in light of the established Prophetic sīrah. The findings reveal a noticeable absence of the application of the Prophetic sīrah in al‑Ālūsī’s interpretive approach, despite the long‑standing recognition of sīrah as a criterion in Qur’anic interpretation. Analysis of these verses indicates that al‑Ālūsī’s views conflict with the Prophetic sīrah in two respects: first, in the process of interpreting and understanding the verses—particularly the verse of the Cave; and second, in his attempts to critique and justify objections to the Shi‘i interpretation of the verses of Completion and the Cave. A comparative analysis of Sunni exegetical works suggests that al‑Ṭabarī and Ibn Kathīr, by avoiding a detailed presentation of the Shi‘i perspective on these verses, refrained from engaging in interpretive disputes that might lead to unavoidable tensions with the Prophetic sīrah. This approach may reflect their attentiveness to the principles derived from the Prophetic sīrah. In contrast, al‑Ālūsī’s explicit presentation and critique of the Shi‘i viewpoint placed him in a position that compelled interpretive explanations inconsistent with that sīrah. The study emphasizes the central role of the Prophetic sīrah in resolving exegetical disagreements and proposes its renewed application as a foundational criterion in Qur’anic interpretation, particularly in contexts shaped by sectarian divisions. |
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| Keywords: Qur’anic Exegesis, Prophetic Sīrah, Rūḥ al‑Maʿānī, al‑Ālūsī, Verse of Completion, Verse of the Cave. |
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Full-Text [PDF 390 kb]
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Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
Special
Received: 2026/07/1 | Accepted: 2026/07/1 | Published: 2026/07/1
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