The Sufi Methodology of Qur’anic Exegesis A Comparative Study of the Interpretive Approaches of Testari, Qushayri, and Ibn ‘Arabi

Abstract

Sufi exegesis of the Qur’an is one of the oldest and most debated interpretive approaches in the history of Islamic thought, as it relies on spiritual unveiling, mystical witnessing, gnoseological intuition, and esoteric indications in drawing meaning from the Qur’anic text. This study, employing a descriptive-analytical methodology alongside a comparative approach, examines the interpretive methodology of three prominent figures of Sufi exegesis: Sahl ibn ‘Abd Allah al-Tustari, Abu al-Qasim al-Qushayri, and Muhyiddin Ibn ‘Arabi, by analyzing the epistemological foundations and methodological principles governing their reading of the Qur’anic text, and highlighting areas of agreement and divergence among them. The results of the study demonstrate that these exegetes share a recognition of the existence of inner meanings and consider mystical indications as complementary to the apparent meaning, with an emphasis on the connection between knowledge and action. However, they differ in the extent of adherence to the literal text, the breadth of interpretive latitude, the role of personal intuition, and the position of Sharia within the exegetical process. These differences reveal an internal diversity within Sufi exegesis and indicate that it is not merely an unrestrained, intuitive reading, but rather a structured interpretive approach amenable to analysis and critique.