The Methodology of Tafsīr in Ḥaqāʾiq al-Tafsīr by Imam Abū ʿAbd al-Raḥmān al-Sulamī: A Research Study

Tafsīr al-Ishārī (mystical and symbolic Qur’anic exegesis) constitutes a significant tradition in the history of Qur’anic interpretation, whose foundations are traced to the Prophetic era and which subsequently developed into a distinctive approach within Sufi scholarship. Among the prominent works of this tradition is Ḥaqāʾiq al-Tafsīr by Imam Abū ʿAbd al-Raḥmān al-Sulamī, a renowned Sufi scholar of the fourth Islamic century. Rather than presenting a conventional, systematic exegesis, this work primarily compiles spiritual insights, mystical interpretations, and esoteric reflections attributed to earlier Sufi authorities. The present study aims to critically and descriptively examine al-Sulamī’s exegetical methodology, with particular emphasis on the principles, characteristics, and interpretive approaches underlying his Ishārī exegesis. Employing a qualitative research methodology based on textual analysis, the study explores the nature of his symbolic and mystical interpretations, their relationship with the apparent meanings of Qur’anic verses, and their significance within the broader intellectual tradition of Sufi Qur’anic exegesis. It also seeks to address the relative paucity of comprehensive academic studies on this subject in Urdu scholarship. By critically evaluating al-Sulamī’s interpretive approach, this research aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of the methodological foundations of Tafsīr al-Ishārī and its role in the development of Islamic spirituality and Qur’anic hermeneutics.