Qur’ānic Exegesis

The Sunnah of Allah which is sending prophets and revealing books existed in the past with one common characteristic between all of them; “We did not send a messenger except that he spoke the language of his people so that he may explain waḥī (lit. revelation) to them.”

The Department of Qurʾānic Exegesis, is devoted towards building an understanding with waḥī and its antecedents. The Noble Qurʾān was revealed to prophet Muhammad ﷺ by means of waḥī.  Therefore, an understanding of it is imperative at the very outset of delving into the study of the Qurʾān. This becomes a reality when one studies the Qurʾān and Arabic and its antecedents, which include rhetoric, tafsīr (exegesis) and recitation of the Qurʾān.

For the Prophet ﷺ, the Arabic language cannot be separated from the miracle of the Qurʾān:

إنا أنزلناه قرءانا عربيا لعلكم تعقلون
“We have sent it down as an Arabic Qurʾān so that you may understand”
Surah Yūsuf, 12:2

نزل به الروح الأمين على قلبك لتكون من المنذرين بلسان عربي مبين
“The trustworthy spirit descends with its verses upon your heart so that you may become of the forewarner in a clear Arabic tongue.”
Surah al-Shuʿarāʾ, 26:193-196

The Prophet ﷺ was sent to Arab Khullāṣ, they understood the Qurʾān in accordance to their proficiency in Arabic, even though the Qurʾān differed from their everyday language due to its linguistic eloquence in words and rhetorical constructions. In the Prophetic era, people understood the Qurʾān in accordance to their capabilities, but they all realized the iʿjāz (miracle) present therein. Throughout our various courses we explore Arabic rhetoric that reflects the miraculous nature of the Qurʾān. Taking it a step further we expound upon tafsīr (exegesis) through classical texts and modern re-presentation.