Ulum al-Quran inda al-Shatibi min khilal kitabihi al-Muwafaqat
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Ulum al-Quran inda al-Shatibi min khilal kitabihi al-Muwafaqat (Quranic Sciences in al-Shatibi's Thought Through His Book al-Muwafaqat) is a scholarly monograph by contemporary researcher Muhammad Salim Abu Asi, dedicated to examining the Quranic sciences and hermeneutical principles embedded within al-Shatibi's foundational legal treatise, al-Muwafaqat.
Purpose and Scope
Abu Asi aims to uncover the rules of Quranic sciences (ulum al-Quran) and the principles of exegesis (usul al-tafsir) articulated by al-Shatibi throughout al-Muwafaqat. A central objective of the work is to demonstrate how early classical scholars utilized deduction and intellectual rigor (istinbat) to extract divine intent from the Quranic text. The author emphasizes—citing his teacher Muhammad Muhammad Abu Musa—that learning the methodology of scholarly deduction is essential for generating new knowledge and renewing scholarly disciplines. Furthermore, Abu Asi presents adherence to these established classical rules as the soundest standard for interpreting the Quran, contrasting them with modern revisionist methodologies—termed "contemporary reading" (al-qira'ah al-mu'asirah)—which he critiques for distorting the text and relying on anomalous opinions.
Themes and Methodology
The work examines al-Shatibi's methodological positions on key exegetical issues, including the conditions of sound interpretive reasoning (ijtihad al-ra'y) when explicit texts from the Quran, the authentic Sunnah, or authoritative reports of the Companions and Successors are absent. In such instances, the interpreter must adhere to linguistic logic, sticking primarily to the manifest compositional meaning (al-zahir) while permitting the deduction of deeper implications required by phrasing and context, provided they align with Arabic usage and overall Quranic objectives.
The study also addresses topics such as scientific exegesis (al-tafsir al-ilmi), contrasting al-Shatibi's critical approach with broader scholarly trends regarding whether modern cosmic and human sciences can be integrated into Quranic interpretation. In framing these debates, the author engages classical discussions on outer and inner meanings, citing views from scholars such as Ibn Rushd, Qutb al-Din al-Shirazi, and Abu Hamid al-Ghazali.
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