The importance of context in Qur'anic exegesis: The example of al-Qurtubî's Tafsir

This master's thesis examines the importance of context (siyâq) in Qur'anic exegesis, using al-Qurtubî's al-Jâmiʿ li-ahkâm al-Qur'ân as a case study. The study emphasizes that both internal and external contexts are crucial for correctly understanding the verses of the Qur'an. It analyzes the significance that al-Qurtubî attributes to context in his tafsir and presents examples illustrating the role of siyâq in the interpretation of verses. The research shows that context is not only essential for identifying the grammatical and lexical meanings of the verses but also plays a significant role in understanding the social, historical, and cultural frameworks. Al-Qurtubî's tafsir demonstrates a comprehensive exegetical method by evaluating context through inter-verse relations, reasons for revelation (asbâb al-nüzûl), qirâ'ât variations, and companion narrations. Examples cited from his tafsir clearly indicate that neglecting context can lead to misinterpretations and methodological errors. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that context is an indispensable methodological tool in Qur'anic exegesis and plays a fundamental role in the accurate construction of the text's meaning.