Negotiating Scriptural Intertextuality: Al-Biqāʿī's Engagement with Biblical Sources in Qurʾānic Exegesis

Abstract

The interpretive tradition of Qurʾānic exegesis (tafsīr) has historically engaged with Biblical literature as well as Talmudic and Midrashic sources in varied ways. While scholarly attitudes toward these texts have differed, their influence on Islamic commentary is discernible across multiple generations of exegetes. Some scholars incorporated Biblical narratives after adapting them to Islamic frameworks, whereas others, like the 15th-century commentator al-Biqāʿī, engaged more directly with Biblical material, at times quoting extended passages verbatim. This study examines al-Biqāʿī’s distinctive methodological approach to Biblical intertextuality, analyzing how his explicit citations function within his Qurʾānic commentary. By comparing al-Biqāʿī’s exegetical strategies with broader trends in tafsīr literature, the paper explores the dynamic interplay between Islamic and Judeo-Christian textual traditions. Rather than focusing solely on theological divergences, it highlights how scriptural interpretation often occurred through nuanced textual dialogue across religious boundaries. The analysis pays particular attention to how al-Biqāʿī’s commentary negotiates between maintaining Islamic theological positions while actively engaging Biblical sources. Central to this investigation is understanding how al-Biqāʿī’s direct use of Biblical texts influenced his interpretive framework, and what his methodology reveals about the broader reception of Biblical material in Islamic exegesis. The study suggests that examining such cross-textual engagements can enrich our understanding of how Qurʾānic interpretation developed in conversation with earlier scriptural traditions. Ultimately, it invites reconsideration of the complex ways Islamic exegetical tradition has historically interacted with, and drawn upon, the broader landscape of monotheistic scripture.