“The Qur’anic Referencing in Tuhaf al-‘Uqul ‘an Al al-Rasul by Ibn Shu‘bah al-Harrani, a Prominent Scholar of the Fourth Hijri Century: A Thematic Study

In this study, we examined the Qur’anic authority and reference framework in the book Tuḥaf al-ʿUqūl ʿan Āl al-Rasūl by al-Shaykh Ibn Shu‘bah al-Ḥarrānī, one of the prominent Shi‘a scholars of the fourth Islamic century. The study explored the methodology of Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them) in invoking Qur’anic texts within their sermons, exhortations, and sayings through various mechanisms, some implicit, such as conceptual intertextuality, and others explicit, such as quotation and direct citation. It also investigated how the Qur’anic text was employed in the discourse of the Infallibles (peace be upon them) through three principal functions: the explanatory and interpretive function, the argumentative and evidentiary function, and the educational and directive function. The study then proceeded to examine the role of Qur’anic authority in shaping the intellect and managing society by clarifying its role in activating the inner proof (al-ḥujjah al-bāṭinah), as well as in managing dialogue and debate with opponents. It further highlighted its role in regulating family relationships and promoting health awareness. Subsequently, the study addressed the role of Qur’anic authority in establishing doctrine and organizing legislation. Throughout the study, selected narrations containing Qur’anic texts were analyzed to demonstrate the role of these texts within the discourse of the Infallibles (peace be upon them). The purpose of this was to illustrate the relationship between the Infallible and the Noble Qur’an, the unity of the divine source of both the Qur’anic text and the discourse of the Infallible, and the profound influence of the Qur’anic text upon the speech of the Infallibles.