Ibn Juzay's Preference Criteria in Tafsir

Mehmet Kaya

Article Details

Ibn Juzay's Preference Criteria in Tafsir

Authors:

Mehmet Kaya

Publisher:

Tekirdag Namik Kemal University

Main Topics:

Tefsir

Journal:

Tasavvur / Tekirdağ İlahiyat Dergisi Vol.10 Issue 2, pp.691-732

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

12/2024

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001332752

pISSN:

2619-9130

Keywords:

Abstract:

 Preference, defined as Considering something better, superior or im-portant than another, preferring it, weighing it up, is one of the most im-portant elements that shape the lives of human beings. The different sources that people consume causes their mindsets to differ, and as a result, differ-ent opinions emerge. Preference also has an important function in Islamic sciences. In fiqh, fiqh methodology and hadith sciences, preference refers to a methodology frequently used when evaluating different opinions and nar-rations. Although not as important as these sciences, preference also plays an important function in the science of tafsir. The basic element that re-quires choice in interpretation is the disagreements of commentators about a verse. However, the interpreter does not always have to make a choice be-tween different views, as in these sciences the preference is inevitable, espe-cially in conflicting issues regarding belief and practice. It is appropriate to date the phenomenon of preference in exegesis from the tadwin period when different interpretations of the verse were brought together in real terms. Ibn Juzay al-Kalbi is one of the commentators who gives systematic information about the phenomenon of preference in the introduction of his tafsir al-Tashīl and frequently applies preference among different interpreta-tions of the verses. Addressing the phenomenon of conflict and choice be-tween different views in the introduction of his commentary al-Tashīl, Ibn Juzay states that the following issues cause the difference in interpretation between the verses: To interpret with Quran, the hadith of the Prophet, with the interpretation of the majority of commentators, interpretation of the rightly guided caliphs and the prominant commentators such as Abbas b. Abbas d. 68687-88, with the data of the Arabic language; to resort to the meaning, to prioritize the meaning that comes to the mind at the first stage, to attribute the real meaning to metaphor, the general to the particu-lar, the absolute to the literal, the presentation of the apparent noun to the literal and the existing syntax of the word. Although Juzay mentions twelve criteria in the introduction of at-Teshîl, when the applications in his tafsir are examined, it is seen that the number of these criteria increases to twenty-five. In practice, Ibn Juzay also applies the criteria of before word, common meaning, absolute meaning, plausibility of the meaning, widespread use, compliance with the requirements, purpose of the verse, order of im-portance of the subject, to Meccan-Medinan, historical data, Arab custom and suitability for the prophets title of innocence. Although there are stud-ies in the Arab world that discuss Ibn Juzays preferences on a sura basis, the fact that no study has been conducted those deals with his preference criteria in tafsir independently constitutes the main reason for writing this article. In this article, prepared using the document scanning technique of the qualitative research method, it is aimed to contribute to the literature by examining the preference criteria between different interpretations in tafsir of Ibn Juzay, a commentator belonging to the Andalusian tafsir tradition and to introduce readers to the principles that can form a basis for choosing between different interpretations of a verse.

 Preference, defined as Considering something better, superior or im-portant than another, preferring it, weighing it up, is one of the most im-portant elements that shape the lives of human beings. The different sources that people consume causes their mindsets to differ, and as a result, differ-ent opinions emerge. Preference also has an important function in Islamic sciences. In fiqh, fiqh methodology and hadith sciences, preference refers to a methodology frequently used when evaluating different opinions and nar-rations. Although not as important as these sciences, preference also plays an important function in the science of tafsir. The basic element that re-quires choice in interpretation is the disagreements of commentators about a verse. However, the interpreter does not always have to make a choice be-tween different views, as in these sciences the preference is inevitable, espe-cially in conflicting issues regarding belief and practice. It is appropriate to date the phenomenon of preference in exegesis from the tadwin period when different interpretations of the verse were brought together in real terms. Ibn Juzay al-Kalbi is one of the commentators who gives systematic information about the phenomenon of preference in the introduction of his tafsir al-Tashīl and frequently applies preference among different interpreta-tions of the verses. Addressing the phenomenon of conflict and choice be-tween different views in the introduction of his commentary al-Tashīl, Ibn Juzay states that the following issues cause the difference in interpretation between the verses: To interpret with Quran, the hadith of the Prophet, with the interpretation of the majority of commentators, interpretation of the rightly guided caliphs and the prominant commentators such as Abbas b. Abbas d. 68687-88, with the data of the Arabic language; to resort to the meaning, to prioritize the meaning that comes to the mind at the first stage, to attribute the real meaning to metaphor, the general to the particu-lar, the absolute to the literal, the presentation of the apparent noun to the literal and the existing syntax of the word. Although Juzay mentions twelve criteria in the introduction of at-Teshîl, when the applications in his tafsir are examined, it is seen that the number of these criteria increases to twenty-five. In practice, Ibn Juzay also applies the criteria of before word, common meaning, absolute meaning, plausibility of the meaning, widespread use, compliance with the requirements, purpose of the verse, order of im-portance of the subject, to Meccan-Medinan, historical data, Arab custom and suitability for the prophets title of innocence. Although there are stud-ies in the Arab world that discuss Ibn Juzays preferences on a sura basis, the fact that no study has been conducted those deals with his preference criteria in tafsir independently constitutes the main reason for writing this article. In this article, prepared using the document scanning technique of the qualitative research method, it is aimed to contribute to the literature by examining the preference criteria between different interpretations in tafsir of Ibn Juzay, a commentator belonging to the Andalusian tafsir tradition and to introduce readers to the principles that can form a basis for choosing between different interpretations of a verse.

 Preference, defined as Considering something better, superior or im-portant than another, preferring it, weighing it up, is one of the most im-portant elements that shape the lives of human beings. The different sources that people consume causes their mindsets to differ, and as a result, differ-ent opinions emerge. Preference also has an important function in Islamic sciences. In fiqh, fiqh methodology and hadith sciences, preference refers to a methodology frequently used when evaluating different opinions and nar-rations. Although not as important as these sciences, preference also plays an important function in the science of tafsir. The basic element that re-quires choice in interpretation is the disagreements of commentators about a verse. However, the interpreter does not always have to make a choice be-tween different views, as in these sciences the preference is inevitable, espe-cially in conflicting issues regarding belief and practice. It is appropriate to date the phenomenon of preference in exegesis from the tadwin period when different interpretations of the verse were brought together in real terms. Ibn Juzay al-Kalbi is one of the commentators who gives systematic information about the phenomenon of preference in the introduction of his tafsir al-Tashīl and frequently applies preference among different interpreta-tions of the verses. Addressing the phenomenon of conflict and choice be-tween different views in the introduction of his commentary al-Tashīl, Ibn Juzay states that the following issues cause the difference in interpretation between the verses: To interpret with Quran, the hadith of the Prophet, with the interpretation of the majority of commentators, interpretation of the rightly guided caliphs and the prominant commentators such as Abbas b. Abbas d. 68687-88, with the data of the Arabic language; to resort to the meaning, to prioritize the meaning that comes to the mind at the first stage, to attribute the real meaning to metaphor, the general to the particu-lar, the absolute to the literal, the presentation of the apparent noun to the literal and the existing syntax of the word. Although Juzay mentions twelve criteria in the introduction of at-Teshîl, when the applications in his tafsir are examined, it is seen that the number of these criteria increases to twenty-five. In practice, Ibn Juzay also applies the criteria of before word, common meaning, absolute meaning, plausibility of the meaning, widespread use, compliance with the requirements, purpose of the verse, order of im-portance of the subject, to Meccan-Medinan, historical data, Arab custom and suitability for the prophets title of innocence. Although there are stud-ies in the Arab world that discuss Ibn Juzays preferences on a sura basis, the fact that no study has been conducted those deals with his preference criteria in tafsir independently constitutes the main reason for writing this article. In this article, prepared using the document scanning technique of the qualitative research method, it is aimed to contribute to the literature by examining the preference criteria between different interpretations in tafsir of Ibn Juzay, a commentator belonging to the Andalusian tafsir tradition and to introduce readers to the principles that can form a basis for choosing between different interpretations of a verse.

 Bir şeyi öbürüne göre daha iyi, üstün veya önemli sayma, yeğ tutma, yeğleme, tartma şeklinde tanımlanan tercih insanoğlunun yaşamını şekil-lendiren en önemli unsurlardan biridir. İnsanların beslendikleri kaynakların farklı olması onların düşünce yapılarının da farklılaşmasına neden olmakta, bunun sonucu olarak da ortaya farklı görüşler çıkmaktadır. Tercih İslami ilimlerde de önemli bir fonksiyona sahiptir. Fıkıh, fıkıh üsulü ve hadis ilimle-rinde tercih farklı görüş ve rivayetleri değerlendirirken sıklıkla başvurulan bir metodolojiyi ifade etmektedir. Tercih bu ilimler kadar olmasa da tefsir ilminde de önemli bir fonksiyon icra etmektedir. Tefsirde tercihi gerektiren temel unsur müfessirlerin bir âyet hakkındaki ihtilaflarıdır. Müfessirin bu ilimlerde olduğu gibi farklı görüşler arasında her zaman tercihte bulunma zorunluluğu bulunmamakla birlikte özellikle inanç ve amele ilişkin birbiriyle tearuz eden konularda tercih kaçınılmaz olmaktadır. et-Teshîl li ʿulûmit-Tenzîl adlı eserinin girişinde tefsirde ihtilaf ve farklı görüşler arasında tercih konularına ayrıntılı biçimde değinen İbn Cüzey ö. 7411340, âyetler ara-sındaki yorum farklılığına şu hususların sebep olduğunu belirtir: Kuranın ihtilafı, iʿrab vecihlerinden kaynaklanan ihtilaf, bir kelimenin anlamı konu-sundaki ihtilaf, kelimedeki çok anlamlılık, umum-husus ihtimali, ıtlak-takyit ihtimali, hakikat-mecaz ihtimali, ızmar-zahir ihtimali, kelimenin zahir olma ihtimali, kelamda tertip, takdim ve tehir ihtimali, hükmün muhkem ya da mensûh olma ihtimali ve âyete ilişkin rivayetlerin farklılık arz etmesi. İbn Cüzey bu on iki ihtilafa karşılık şu tercih kriterlerini ortaya koymaktadır: Kuranı; Kuran, Hz. Peygamberin hadisi, cumhurun ya da müfessirlerin çoğunluğunun yorumu, hulefâ-yi raşidîn ve Abdullah b. Abbas ö. 68687-88 gibi tefsirde söz sahibi müfessirlerin yorumu, Arap dillinin verileri ile tefsir etmek; siyâka başvurmak, zihne ilk aşamada gelen anlamı öncelemek, hakiki anlamı mecaza, umumu hususa, mutlakı mukayyede hamletmek, zâhir ismi muzmara takdim etmek ve kelamı mevcut söz dizimi üzerine hamletmek. İbn Cüzey et-Teshîlin mukaddimesinde on iki kriterden bah-setmekle birlikte tefsirindeki uygulamaları incelendiğinde bu kriterlerin sayı-sının yirmi beşe çıktığı görülmektedir. İbn Cüzey uygulamada sibâk, âmm anlam, mutlak anlam, anlamın akla yatkın olması, yaygın kullanım, mukte-zaya uygunluk, âyetin amacı, konunun önem sırası, Mekkîlik-Medenîlik, tarihi veri, Arap âdeti ve peygamberlerin ismet sıfatına uygunluk kriterleri-ne de başvurmaktadır. Arap dünyasında İbn Cüzeyin tercihlerinin sûre bazında ele alındığı çalışmalara rastlanılmakla birlikte onun tefsirdeki tercih kriterlerini müstakil olarak ele alan bir çalışmanın yapılmamış olması bu makalenin yazılmasındaki temel gerekçeyi oluşturmaktadır. Nitel araştırma yönteminin doküman tarama tekniği kullanılarak hazırlanan bu makalede Endülüs tefsir geleneğine mensup bir müfessir olan İbn Cüzeyin tefsirde farklı yorumlar arasındaki tercih kriterleri incelenerek literatüre katkı su-nulması ve okuyucuya bir âyet hakkındaki farklı yorumlar arasında tercihe ilişkin ilkeleri sunmak hedeflenmiştir.

Article Details

Ibn Juzay's Preference Criteria in Tafsir

Authors:

Mehmet Kaya

Publisher:

Tekirdag Namik Kemal University

Main Topics:

Tefsir

Journal:

Tasavvur / Tekirdağ İlahiyat Dergisi Vol.10 Issue 2, pp.691-732

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

12/2024

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001332752

pISSN:

2619-9130

Tafsir

Ibn Juzay

al-Tashīl

Preference

Controversy

Andalusia

ZahiriyyaTefsir

İbn Cüzey

et-Teshîl

İhtilaf

Tercih

Endülüs

Zâhirîlik

Issues

Article Details

Authors: Mehmet Kaya

Publisher: Tekirdag Namik Kemal University

Main Topics: Tefsir

Journal: Tasavvur / Tekirdağ İlahiyat Dergisi Vol.10 Issue 2, pp.691-732

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 12/2024

Document Language: Turkish

Document ID (Org No.): 2001332752

pISSN: 2619-9130

Issues

Authors:

Mehmet Kaya

Publisher:

Tekirdag Namik Kemal University

Main Topics:

Tefsir

Journal:

Tasavvur / Tekirdağ İlahiyat Dergisi Vol.10 Issue 2, pp.691-732

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

12/2024

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001332752

pISSN:

2619-9130