A study of the reinterpretation of the Quran in a seventeenth-century Malay sufi text written by al-Raniri

Mohamad Nasir, Mohamad Nasrin (2023) A study of the reinterpretation of the Quran in a seventeenth-century Malay sufi text written by al-Raniri. Islamic Studies, 62 (4). pp. 453-469. ISSN 0578-8072 E-ISSN 2710-5326

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Abstract

Sufi interpretation of the Qur’an has always tried to justify their view of the God-human relationship and God-World relationship by utilizing the verses of the Qur’an. This paper will study the controversies in the interpretation of the Qur’an by the Wujūdīyyah group of Malay Sufis in the 17th century Acheh and Malay Archipelago. Their interpretation were pantheistic according to their opponent, the Shaykh al-Islam of Acheh Nur al-Din al-Ranīrī. al-Ranīrī had to counter their teachings in an effort to cleanse Sufism from pantheistic ideas. The text chosen, Fath al-Mubin ala al-Mulhidin (The clear victory against the heretics) is a Jawi text written by al-Ranīrī before he left Acheh for good in 1446 for India. Perhaps one of the most interesting appeal of the wujūdīyyah mulhidah was their ability to interpret verses of the Quran to their advantage. This has forced al-Ranīrī to reinterpret those same verses to demonstrate the misunderstandings of their teachings of those verses of the Qur’an. Issues of reinterpretation, authoritative interpretation and cogency are clearly expressed in the text. The paper provides a glimpse of discussion of 17th century Malay Sufism which is often ignored by scholars of the Islamics. This paper will begin by giving a background of the controversy and proceed to discuss the arguments given by al-Ranīrī for a reinterpretation of the Quranic texts used by the Wujūdīyyah in his quest for upholding the true Sufi view. Whenever possible, a comparative view with the teachings or statements of Ibn ‘Arabī would be brought into the analysis.

Item Type:	Article (Journal)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	wujūdīyyah, Ibn ‘Arabī, Sufi interpretation, Quran, Acheh, Malay
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BJ Ethics > BJ1188 Religious ethics B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BP Islam. Bahaism. Theosophy, etc B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BP Islam. Bahaism. Theosophy, etc > BP134.S3 Quran and Science B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BP Islam. Bahaism. Theosophy, etc > BP1 Islam > BP166 Theology (Kalam) > BP166.4 Special schools, movement etc. B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BP Islam. Bahaism. Theosophy, etc > BP1 Islam > BP170 Works in defense of Islam. Islamic apologetics B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BP Islam. Bahaism. Theosophy, etc > BP600 Other beliefs and movements B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BP Islam. Bahaism. Theosophy, etc > BP1 Islam > BP87 Islamic Literature. Islamic authors > BP88 Individual authors, A-Z
Kulliyyahs/Centres/Divisions/Institutes (Can select more than one option. Press CONTROL button):	International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilization (ISTAC)
Depositing User:	Dr Mohamad Nasrin Nasir
Date Deposited:	13 Mar 2024 14:43
Last Modified:	13 Mar 2024 15:32
URI:	http://irep.iium.edu.my/id/eprint/111269

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