Intertextuality in Qur’anic Studies: Ulum al-Qur'an Perspective on Utilization of the Bible in Qur'anic Interpretation

Saleh, Sujiat Zubaidi
Asnawi, Aqdi Rofiq
Hilda, Nurul Arifah

AL QUDS : Jurnal Studi Alquran dan Hadis
Vol. 8 No. 2 (2024)

In contemporary Qur'anic studies, a polemic has emerged regarding the use of the Bible as a reference to interpret the Qur'an, or what is categorized as intertextuality. This article aims to reveal the interpretive distortions that arise from the use of the Bible in interpreting the Qur'an by using the perspective of ‘ulūm al-Qur’ān. The methodology of this research is qualitative by using the literature method and using the content analysis approach to analyze the data. Through this methodology, it is found that some orientalists such as Michel Cuypers and Edip Yuksel often use the Bible in interpreting the Qur'an (intertextuality). In the perspective of ‘ulūm al-Qur’ān, this method of interpretation can be categorized as the use of isrā'īliyyāt in the interpretation of the Qur'an.  However, it turns out that what the orientalists did was not in line with the rules of using isrā'īliyyāt itself. Therefore, the intertextuality done by the orientalists can be classified as al-dakhīl fī al-tafsīr (intrusion in interpretation). Ultimately, this method of interpretation is unacceptable, because it implies distortion of Qur'anic interpretation.