Ishari/Sufi Interpretations in al-Qurtubi’s Tafsir

Ishari tafsir tradition which can be evaluated within the ta’wil tradition is one of the means of interpretation widely used by Sufis. Ishari tafsir, found on the boundaries of the ‘irfani ta'wil, is based on the notion of the indication of the wording to its meaning. Isharah (sign), of the indicator to meaning but non-verbal elements is one of subjects, interpreting the wording and the means by which people can communicate. The sign, which may have abstract or concrete characteristics, may have many meanings at the same time. When these meanings is applied to wording, the polysemy and closure which the wording possesses, reveals the existence of a meaning beyond the apparent one. Thus, the wording and the meaning it signs overflow outside of the apparent meaning and attribute a new meaning which is additional or beyond the wording to it. Indeed, ishari tafsir and interpretations are based on the process of expressing opinion on the meaning which the verses signal and they endeavor to reach the ishari meaning by coming out from the signs in the apparent or from the inner signs that cannot be apparently seen and felt. Abu Abdillah Muhammad b. Ahmad al-Qurtubi, one of famous scholars in the fields of tafsir, hadith and fiqh, gives also place to ishari interpretations and makes comments and evaluations on a number of sufi/ishari concepts suchs as zuhd, walayah, karamah, wacd, sama, futuwwah in his tafsir titled al-Jami li Ahkam al-Quran. In this paper the ishari interpretations in al-Qurtubi’s tafsir will be discussed and the topic will be examined at the limits of the paper.

Keywords

al-Qurtubi, ishari/sufi tafsir, zuhd, walayah.