Naẓariyyat al-Taʿwīḍ fī al-Tafsīr: Ruʾyah Ḥadīthah ʿalā Khuṭā Tafsīr al-Qurʾān bi al-Qurʾān

Abstract

This study proposes a modern interpretive theory that integrates a theoretical Islamic discipline with an applied empirical one, combining the science of Qur’anic exegesis—specifically interpreting the Qur’an by the Qur’an with mathematics, particularly algebra, which studies constants and variables through the method of substitution. By examining verses that are similar in wording and share common meanings, the scope of Qur’anic exposition can be expanded to encompass all the meanings contained within these verses, considering them as intentionally intended. Advancing this interpretive process requires assigning each verse a numerical value or symbolic significance to be substituted into another verse that shares its wording and meaning, thereby generating an expansion of meaning that cannot be achieved when considering a single verse in isolation. The study adopts an inductive methodology by collecting analogous verses through memorized texts, digital platforms concerned with verbal similarities, thematic exegesis encyclopedias, and indexed lexicons of Qur’anic vocabulary, followed by analyzing the results and applying the substitution method within the permissible limits of the research scope.The study yields unprecedented findings, affirming that the Qur’an, from its first verse to its last, constitutes a single, interconnected text in which each verse supports the next. It also demonstrates the possibility of employing new methodologies and tools to interpret verbal and semantic similarities, and of applying rhetorical devices—such as ellipsis, interweaving (ḥibāk), and ordered distribution (laf wa nashr) to similar verses in both structure and meaning to broaden interpretive horizons. The study further establishes that the Qur’an is founded upon conciseness, which is a core aspect of its inimitability, as well as on cross-referencing prior verses, clear indications, and familiar modes of discourse that resonate with the listener and reader.