The Literary Role of Jews in Qur'anic Exegesis

Abstract

This study explores the representation of Jews in the Tafsīrs (Qur’anic exegeses) of three medieval Sunnī scholars, Muqātil (d. 767 CE), al-Ṭabarī (d. 923 CE) and Ibn Kathīr (d. 1373 CE). The main argument is that the three exegetes create boundaries between Muslims and Jews by presenting Jews as a literary anti-exemplar group. In presenting this argument, this thesis explores certain key themes that are discussed in the tafsīrs as Jewish behavioural traits – traits that Muslims should be wary of, in case they too fall into such opprobrious behaviour: kufr (disbelief), kibr (arrogance) and kitmān al-ḥaqq (concealing the truth). The thesis examines how each exegete applies the term to Jews, who these Jews may be, definitions of these terms offered by the exegetes, exegetical comments from different Qur’anic verses about the same theme, tertiary linked themes (such as taḥrīf – distortion of scripture as a facet of kitmān al-ḥaqq), theoretical reasons as to why each exegete discusses the terms differently, and differences in method, approach and exegetical structure between the three exegetes (inasmuch as is relevant to the primary source analysis of this thesis). Other main findings of this thesis include that much of the anti-exemplary rhetoric directed towards Jews can be found in some form within the Christian tradition and the works of the church fathers as demonstrated in Chapter II. Chapter III shows that there is a developmental exegetical trend through time, from the simple narrative structure that Muqātil employs, to an encyclopaedic ma’thūr exegesis with al-Ṭabarī, to Ibn Kathīr who uses hadith like al-Ṭabarī, but is more monovalent in his views. Chapters IV, V and VI provide detailed analysis of passages from the three exegetes, focussing on kufr, kibr and kitmān al-ḥaqq respectively. Muqātil portrays Jews in familiar, often individualised terms, naming specific figures as negative examples whilst highlighting their knowledge. Al-Ṭabarī, however, focuses on the rabbis of the Medinan Jews as a distinct group that led others to disbelief. Ibn Kathīr tends to generalise, portraying Jews as a collective anti-exemplar. Overall, the exegetes apply similar anti-exemplary characteristics to Jews in analogous ways (notably through using the three key themes focussed on in this thesis), but adapting it to the language of their eras and contexts. This work synthesises different strands of the following topics, and may be useful in the following fields: Qur’anic studies, tafsīr studies, Muslim-Jewish relations, the development of Sunnī Islamic views, Islamic history (750-1400 CE), Christian and Muslim anti-Jewish polemical literature (and how they may be linked), and Islamic theological conceptions of the People of the Book.