The interpretation in Ibn Barrajān's tafsīr (With a special focus on the parables of the prophets of the holy prophets)

This study deals with Ibn Barrajān's literal interpretations of the parables of the prophets in his work Tenbīh al-efhām. The author's Sufi approach came to the fore in his interpretation of the parables; however, he did not completely ignore the literal meaning and adhered to the method of narrative exegesis. This shows that his interpretations constitute an example of an acceptable exegesis. In the parable of Noah, instead of attributing deep meanings to the symbol of the ship, he focused on the difficulties that the prophets experienced in the preaching of the message and the consequences of the people's persistence in disbelief. The ship is associated with the aspect of the Shari'ah that protects people from destruction; however, he does not offer detailed symbolic interpretations as some other commentators do. In the parable of Abraham, he emphasized the themes of covenant faithfulness, aloofness and submission instead of the concepts of life and death. While evaluating the parable of Ismāʿīl's sacrifice as an example of absolute submission, he explained Abraham's distance from his people with the concept of aloofness. The birth of Moses and his growing up in Pharaoh's palace is interpreted as an indication of God's protection and favor. The calamities suffered by Pharaoh and his people, on the other hand, point to the need for people to wake up from their heedlessness and have clairvoyance. In the parable of al-Baqarah, the revelation's revitalizing and guiding power is emphasized, and it is stated that unnecessary detailed questions would cause trouble. In the parable of Mûsâ-Hızır, universal moral principles are emphasized instead of the sheikh-murshid relationship seen in other Sufi commentaries. In the parables of the Prophet Muhammad, the bātī dimension of prayer is discussed, and prayer is considered as a means of approaching God and attaining spiritual peace. He also emphasized the greatness of the office of prophethood and supported this view with the examples of the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah and the Pledge of Ridwan. In conclusion, Ibn Barrajān's commentaries reveal that the Sufi perspective was also influential in the Andalusian exegetical tradition. His interpretations offer a rich layer of meaning that deepens the message of the Qur'an without contradicting the literal.