Al-Suyuti’s preferences in Al-Iklil

Abstract

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful This study explores an important aspect of Qur'anic exegesis in the work of Imam Jalal al-Din al-Suyuti (d. 911 AH), focusing on his book Al-Itqān fī Istinbāṭ al-Tanzīl. This unique work reflects al-Suyuti’s profound understanding of the Qur’an and his ability to derive legal and moral rulings from its verses. The research specifically investigates al-Suyuti’s preferences and methodological choices in his interpretive conclusions, shedding light on the foundations he relied upon in preferring certain views over others—whether linguistic, jurisprudential, or methodological.

The importance of this research lies in its focus on an under-studied aspect of al-Suyuti’s exegetical approach: his use of tarjīḥ (preference) in al-Iklīl. Through this lens, the study offers a deeper understanding of interpretive methods in Islamic scholarship and highlights al-Suyuti’s comprehensive scholarly approach, which integrates multiple sources and disciplines.

The study adopts an inductive-analytical methodology, collecting and classifying al-Suyuti’s preferences in al-Iklīl and analyzing the principles upon which they are based. It also compares his opinions with those of other exegetes, to assess the distinctiveness of his method. The findings show that al-Suyuti practiced independent scholarly judgment, using clear expressions of preference and demonstrating the courage to oppose mainstream interpretations when warranted by evidence.

The research is structured around two main sections: the first discusses al-Suyuti’s life, scholarly status, and introduces the concept and terminology of tarjīḥ; the second examines his methodology through practical examples of his interpretive preferences in al-Iklīl. The study concludes with a summary of key findings and the primary sources used.

Overall, this work aims to enrich Qur'anic studies and open new research avenues in the field of interpretive preference (tarjīḥ) by offering a methodical analysis of al-Suyuti’s contributions.