Ahkām al-Qur'ān in the early Shīʿī tafsīr tradition

This study aims to examine the Ahkâm al-Qur'ân literature within the Shi'i exegesis tradition in terms of historical development, methodology, and scholarly foundations. The primary objective of this research is the systematic presentation of the Shi'i interpretation of the Qur'an's legal verses. Within this framework, first, the works of the Ahkâm al-Qur'ân genre produced from the 6th century AH to the present were identified and introduced. Subsequently, the methodological analysis of the Shi'i jurisprudential exegesis tradition was conducted by examining the first jurisprudential commentary and the early period works predominantly focused on narration and reasoned interpretation. The study demonstrates that the relationship between narration and reasoned interpretation, which constitutes the foundation of the Shi'i exegesis approach, is particularly shaped under the authority of the doctrine of Imamate. The Shi'a belief in the infallibility of the Imams renders their words, actions, and silent approvals as primary sources. The research systematically addresses the methods Shi'i commentators employ in interpreting legal verses. In this context, methods such as deriving rulings from the apparent meaning of the verse, establishing inter-verse connections, interpreting through the Sunnah, referring to the reports of the Imams to arrive at rulings, using variant readings as evidence, conducting philological and linguistic analyses, and citing poetry as supportive evidence are examined in detail. Additionally, the study provides a Shi'i-Sunni comparative analysis in the interpretation of legal verses. It finds that, generally, there is consensus between the two traditions on the exegesis of some worship-related verses; however, divergences become more pronounced in verses pertaining to the authority of the Imams, guardianship, social order, and punishments-topics that relate more directly to creed and social transactions (mu'āmalāt). In conclusion, this study offers a comprehensive evaluation of the historical trajectory, methodological foundations, intra-sectarian differences, and the relationship of Shi'i legal exegesis with Sunni exegetical traditions. It systematically reveals the method the Shi'a follow in interpreting juridical verses. The findings provide a theoretical framework both for understanding the Qur'anic references in Shi'i jurisprudential thought and for comparative scholarly studies across sects.