Andalusian tafsir tradition: Commentators and their works

Andalusia, as one of the most brilliant scientific and cultural centres of Islamic civilisation in Western Europe, developed a unique methodology in the science of tafsīr. Andalusian exegetes blended the scholarly heritage they received from the eastern Islamic world with the social, political, cultural dynamics of the region and skilfully combined both narrative and direct exegesis methods. In this process, linguistic analyses were given great importance, jurisprudential and theological interpretations were taken into consideration, and the spiritual dimensions of the Qur'ān were examined in depth through Sufi interpretations. Ibn Atiyya al-Andalusī's (d. 541/1147) al-Muharrer al-wajīz is an important work that reveals the methodological richness of the Andalusian exegesis tradition. Ibn Atiyya, while analysing the linguistic and grammatical structure of the verses, also took into account the jurisprudential provisions and the differences of qiraat. Similarly, Abū Hayyān al-Andalusī's (d. 745/1344) al-Bahru al-muhīt provides a linguistic depth in understanding the verse of the Qur'ān by focusing on the rules of grammar, exposition and rhetoric of the Arabic language. This linguistic and literary approach became one of the basic elements of exegesis activities in Andalusia. Qurtubī's (d. 671/1273) al-Jāmi' li-ahkāmi al-Qur'ān covers the exegesis of all the verses, but stands out especially with its jurisprudential explanations. In the Andalusian exegesis tradition, jurisprudential interpretations also have an important place. Ibn al-'Arabī's work Ahkām al-Qur'ān exhibited an approach based on the principles of the Mālikī sect in deducing sharī'ah rulings from Qur'ānic verses. This work explained the basic principles of Islamic law through tafsīr by dealing with the provisions of the Qur'ān in a systematic way. In addition to jurisprudential tafsīr, Sufi exegetes such as Ibn Barrajān emphasised the bāṭinī and spiritual meanings of the Qur'ān and tried to reach the deep layers of meaning of the verses. Other commentators and their works discussed in this thesis are: Ibn Abū Zemenīn (d. 399/1008) and his Tafsir al-Qur'ān al-Azīz, al-Makkī b. Abū Ṭālib (d. 437/1045) and his al-Hidāya ilā bulūq al-nihāya, al-Mahdawī (d. 440/1048) and his al-Tahsīl, Ibn al-Fares al-Girnātī (d. 597/1201) and his Ahkām al-Qur'ān, Muhammad b. Ahmad al-Qurtubī (d. 671/1273) and his al-Jāmi' li ahkāmi'l-Qur'ān, Ibn al-Zubayr al-Saqafī (d. 708/1308) and his Milāku't-ta'wīl, Ibn Juzay al-Kalbī (d. 741/1340) and his tafsīr titled et-Teshīl li 'ulūmi't-tanzīl are the other tafsīrs discussed. Andalusian tafsīr tradition has left a rich heritage reflecting the diversity and depth of the Islamic scientific tradition. In this study, it is aimed to examine the science of tafsīr in Andalusia in terms of methodology, to reveal the contribution of the region to the science of tafsīr and to determine their place in the tradition of tafsīr. Key Words: Tafsīr, Commentaries, al-Andalusia, Qur'ān, Tradition