Tafsir-e-Ishāri: A Study of the Concept of Poetry in Abu Abdur Rahman al-Salami's Haqqat al-Tafsir

Abstract

This study explores the Qur’anic tradition of interpretation through the lens of Ishārī (allusive/symbolic) exegesis, with special focus on Abū ʿAbd al-Raḥmān al-Sulamī’s work Ḥaqāʾiq al-Tafsīr and its implicit concept of Qur’anic coherence (naẓm). The paper begins by situating Ishārī tafsīr within the broader history of Qur’anic interpretation, distinguishing it from purely literal approaches while emphasizing that it does not negate the outward meanings of the text. Instead, Ishārī tafsīr seeks to uncover ethical, spiritual, and inward dimensions of the Qur’an grounded in spiritual experience and moral refinement. The research examines the definition, origins, principles, and methodological limits of Ishārī tafsīr, addressing major scholarly objections and the responses offered by both classical and later scholars. It argues that legitimate Ishārī interpretation operates within the boundaries of Sharīʿah, Arabic language, and established outward meanings, and should be understood as spiritual insight rather than legislative or doctrinal exegesis. A central part of the study analyzes Ḥaqāʾiq al-Tafsīr as one of the earliest systematic compilations of Sufi allusive interpretations. Although concise in form, the work reveals a clear spiritual and thematic coherence between verses and passages. Al-Sulamī presents Qur’anic verses as interconnected stages of an inner journey—moving from fear to hope, purification of the heart, servitude, divine love, and ultimate salvation. Through selected examples from different sūrahs (such as al-Fātiḥah, al-Baqarah, Yā Sīn, and al-Raḥmān), the study demonstrates how al-Sulamī establishes a form of inner coherence that complements the outward structure of the Qur’an. The study concludes that Ḥaqāʾiq al-Tafsīr represents an early yet significant model of Qur’anic coherence from an Ishārī perspective, portraying the Qur’an not merely as a collection of legal rulings or isolated verses, but as a unified spiritual discourse aimed at the purification of the heart and the realization of divine proximity.