صوفیانہ تفسیر کی استنادی حیثیت: ایک تحقیقی جائزہ

THE AUTHENTICITY OF SUFI EXEGESIS: A CRITICAL STUDY

Abstract

This study critically examines the authenticity and scholarly status of Sufi exegesis, commonly referred to as Tafsīr al-Ishārī (allegorical or allusive exegesis), within the broader tradition of Qur’anic interpretation. Sufi exegetes have sought to elucidate not only the apparent meanings of Qur’anic verses but also the spiritual, ethical, and mystical insights perceived by those engaged in spiritual discipline and contemplation. However, the interpretive validity of such insights raises important methodological and theological questions concerning their evidentiary basis, relationship with the apparent meaning of the Qur’an, and distinction from esoteric (bāṭinī) interpretation. This study employs a critical and analytical approach to examine the definitions, examples, principles, and conditions associated with Tafsīr al-Ishārī, with particular attention to the views of prominent scholars, including al-Zurqānī, al-Ṣābūnī, Ibn Taymiyyah, Ibn al-Qayyim, Shāh Walī Allāh al-Dihlawī, and other authorities. The study finds that Sufi allusions cannot be categorically rejected when they remain compatible with the established apparent meaning of the Qur’an and do not contradict the Qur’an, Sunnah, or definitive principles of Islamic law. Nevertheless, such spiritual insights should not be treated as the exclusive or definitive intended meaning of Qur’anic verses without valid textual or methodological evidence. The study further demonstrates that acceptable Tafsīr al-Ishārī differs fundamentally from bāṭinī interpretation, particularly in its affirmation of the apparent meaning of the Qur’an and its rejection of arbitrary alteration of Qur’anic words and meanings. It concludes that Sufi exegesis may constitute a valuable dimension of spiritual reflection, ethical cultivation, and inner purification, provided that it remains within established exegetical and Sharīʿah-based principles.