Exegesis of the Qur'ân by the Qur'ân: The case of Tefsîru'l-Qur'ân bi Kelâmi'r-Rahmân

The master's thesis entitled "Exegesis of the Qur'ân by the Qur'ân: The Case of Tefsîru'l-Qur'ân bi Kelâmi'r-Rahmân" consists of an introduction, two main chapters, and a conclusion. The introduction outlines the purpose, significance, scope, and methodology of the study, and also provides a general framework regarding the historical development of the exegetical approach known as the interpretation of the Qur'ân by the Qur'ân (tafsīr al-Qur'ān bi'l-Qur'ān). The first chapter addresses this exegetical method on a theoretical level, discussing its place within classical tafsīr methodologies. Within this context, the question of whether the method should be categorized under dirâyah (rational-analytical interpretation) or riwâyah (tradition-based narration) is examined through the lens of diverse scholarly perspectives. Additionally, this chapter explores the political, social, and cultural circumstances of the period in which the author, Senâullah Amritsarî, lived. In this regard, his intellectual persona, works, and contribution to the field of Qur'ânic exegesis are thoroughly evaluated. The second chapter of the thesis offers a detailed examination of the structural and thematic features of the work entitled Tafsīru'l-Qur'ān bi Kalāmi'r-Raḥmān. The overall exegetical method employed in the work is explicated, and Amritsarî's interpretive approach to the Qur'ân is systematically analyzed. Within this framework, the application of his method is demonstrated through selected examples from the tafsîr under key headings such as the interpretation of general expressions (āmm), clarification of ambiguous terms (mujmal), restriction (taqyîd) of absolute terms (muṭlaq), and the interrelation between explicit (mufassar) and allegorical (mutashâbih) verses. By integrating both theoretical context and practical examples, the study aims to identify the fundamental characteristics of the author's understanding of the exegetical principle of interpreting the Qur'ân through the Qur'ân. In this regard, a holistic methodology has been adopted, drawing upon both existing scholarly research and the author's own writings, in order to present a comprehensive perspective on Senâullah Amritsarî's exegetical approach.