Intertextual
The term intertextual refers to the relationship between texts, where the meaning of one is shaped or clarified by another. In the context of Islamic sciences, it is most powerfully applied to the principle of Qur’an explains Qur’an (tafsīr al-Qur’ān bi al-Qur’ān) — where the Qur’an is understood through its own internal coherence across verses.
Intertextuality in Qur’anic studies is not merely a literary device but a hermeneutical principle in usul al-tafsir, in which scholars derive meaning, reconcile ambiguity (mujmal), and resolve apparent contradiction by placing one verse in light of others. The Qur’an itself invites this recursive engagement:
“Do they not reflect upon the Qur’an?” — Qur’an 47:24
Classical Usage
- Ibn Kathir is known for beginning many of his tafsir sections with verses from other parts of the Qur’an to explain the verse at hand.
- As-Suyuti in Ad-Durr al-Manthur (Tafsir) often collates internal Qur’anic parallels before citing hadith or Athar.
- Ali ibn Abi Talib (RA) used intertextual logic in the case of pregnancy duration (see quran-46-15-pregnancy-duration).
Methodological Role
Within Usul al-Fiqh, intertextual reading is a primary method for:
- Determining scope (
ʿāmvskhāṣṣ) - Resolving contradictions (
naskh,takhṣīṣ) - Ascertaining context (
asbāb al-nuzūl)
Modern Implications
In apologetics and academic Qur’anic studies, failing to account for intertextual relationships often leads to:
- Allegations of scientific error (e.g., pregnancy length, embryology)
- Misrepresentation of rulings (e.g., quran-2-282-women-testimony)
- Atomization of verses, ignoring Qur’an’s own methodology
Intertextual coherence is thus not a modern invention — it is embedded in the Qur’an’s design and recovered through prophetic and companion practice.
For applied examples, see: