Research Objective
The present study aims to examine the intertextual reading of Surah Al-Mu’minun in response to the question: How is the intertextual reading of Surah Al-Mu’minun performed? By employing an intertextual approach, the study evaluates the effectiveness of this method as a hermeneutical tool for understanding the Qur’an and investigates how the various thematic elements of the surah are interconnected.
Research Methodology
This research, which seeks to propose a model for Qur’anic reading, adopts a descriptive-analytical approach. Initially, intratextual references within each rukuʿ (section) of Surah Al-Mu’minun are identified, followed by an intertextual reading of the rukuʿs. Considering the importance of rukuʿs in Qur’anic comprehension, the surah is first segmented according to its rukuʿs, and then the relevant verses are broken down into passages. In the first stage, passages within each verse are read continuously, followed by continuous reading of these verses in relation to preceding and succeeding verses until the end of the rukuʿ. Each rukuʿ is then assigned a thematic title based on the coherence of its verses. In the second stage, an intertextual reading of the rukuʿs is conducted, both at the lexical and semantic levels.
Findings
The findings indicate that the verses of Surah Al-Mu’minun are structurally and semantically interconnected, providing a strong basis for intertextual reading. One prominent form of intertextual connection in this surah is the relationship within and between rukuʿs. Surah Al-Mu’minun consists of six rukuʿs. Beyond the connections among verses within each rukuʿ, the rukuʿs themselves are interrelated both lexically and semantically: the first rukuʿ connects with the second, the second with the third, the third with the fourth, the fourth with the fifth, the fifth with the sixth, and there is also a coherent connection between the first and the last rukuʿ. Paying attention to these interconnections not only enhances comprehension and reading of this surah but also contributes to a broader understanding of Qur’anic textual cohesion. Moreover, it highlights the internal structural unity of the surah.
Conclusion
Intertextual relationships represent a crucial aspect of text reading, facilitating a more precise and nuanced understanding of the Qur’an. Every text, while functioning as an independent unit, maintains connections with other texts, referred to as intertextual relations. For instance, if each surah is treated as a unit of text, the connections among surahs constitute intertextuality. This phenomenon is also observable among the verses within a surah, whether within a single rukuʿ or across different rukuʿs. Rukuʿs correspond to thematic divisions in the Qur’an, which divide the text into 555 thematic units. Each unit contains a group of thematically related verses that begin with the introduction of a topic and conclude upon its transition to another theme. In other words, each rukuʿ represents a specific topic within a surah, a pattern more evident in longer surahs, as shorter surahs usually contain a single thematic unit.
Based on this division, Surah Al-Mu’minun can be segmented into six thematic units. Beyond intrarukuʿ connections, the rukuʿs themselves are interrelated. This approach to Qur’anic understanding and interpretation, as demonstrated in the exegetical experience of Allameh Tabataba’i, has proven highly beneficial. For example, in his commentary on the beginning of Surah Al-Kahf, Allameh employed this method to uncover the multiple semantic layers of Qur’anic verses.