An Analytical Study of the Indicative Interpretation of the Objectives of the Qurʾān and Qurʾānic Coherence in Tafsīr Rūḥ al-Bayān

Abstract

Qurʾānic exegesis (tafsīr) occupies a central position in Islamic scholarship, and throughout history a wide range of exegetical methodologies have been developed to elucidate the meanings, objectives, and guidance of the Qurʾān. Scholarly attention has traditionally focused on Tafsīr bi’l-Maʾthūr, Tafsīr bi’l-Raʾy, as well as juridical and theological commentaries. In contrast, Ishārī (Sufi) tafsīr has often been treated as secondary or dismissed as merely intuitive and subjective. Such a perception, however, fails to capture its genuine scholarly significance. In reality, Ishārī tafsīr represents a systematic, purpose-driven exegetical approach grounded in well-defined intellectual, methodological, and spiritual principles. The distinctive feature of Ishārī tafsīr lies in its ability to preserve the outward, linguistic meanings of Qurʾānic verses while simultaneously deriving ethical, spiritual, and moral insights—provided that these interpretations do not contradict the Qurʾānic text, the norms of the Arabic language, contextual coherence, or the established principles of Islamic law. This methodological balance has been explicitly acknowledged and validated by eminent scholars such as al-Ghazālī, al-Suyūṭī, Ibn Taymiyyah, al-Qushayrī, and al-Ālūsī, all of whom recognized the legitimacy of Ishārī interpretations when confined within clearly defined limits. This study examines Rūḥ al-Bayān by Ismāʿīl Ḥaqqī al-Bursawī as a representative and authoritative model of Ishārī tafsīr. The work demonstrates how, within the framework of Sunnī Sufism, the objectives of the Qurʾān are articulated in a coherent and integrated manner. Central themes such as divine unity (tawḥīd), purification of the soul (tazkiyat al-nafs), moral refinement, prophethood, accountability in the Hereafter, and adherence to the Sharīʿah are consistently emphasized. Furthermore, al-Bursawī’s sustained attention to the coherence (naẓm) of verses and sūrahs underscores the Qurʾān as a unified, purposeful, and systematically structured discourse rather than a collection of isolated statements. The study concludes that, just as other exegetical methodologies pursue clearly defined interpretive objectives, Ishārī tafsīr likewise embodies the fundamental purposes of the Qurʾān. Its distinctive contribution lies in addressing the inner spiritual and ethical dimensions of human existence, thereby complementing rather than competing with other interpretive approaches. Consequently, Ishārī tafsīr merits recognition as an independent, credible, and indispensable methodology within the broader field of Qurʾānic studies.