The Ibadi approach to the methodology of Qur'anic exegesis

In recent times, research on the Ibāḍī tradition by both Muslim and non-Muslim scholars has increased, but has not yet shed light on the wider significance of this tradition. While the primary focus of researchers has been on the Ibāḍī tradition as a school of thought, its important contribution to various Islamic disciplines is still neglected. For this reason, there is a serious need for a comprehensive study of the Ibāḍī works on Islam, especially as new manuscripts are continually being discovered. When we look at Ibāḍī Islamic literature in general and compare Ibāḍī jurisprudence and theology, we realise that the poorest and most unexplored field of study consists of the Ibāḍī works on exegesis (tafsīr). The once inaccessible and insufficient amount of Ibāḍī sources and materials may have accounted for this lack of interest; however, today, materials related to Ibāḍī exegesis and understanding are becoming available. In this article, we focus on the methodology of Qur'anic exegesis with reference to commentators from the Ibāḍī tradition. As far as we know, this paper is a first in this field of research, and will discuss the primary features of the Ibāḍī method, its similarities to and differences from other exegetical approaches, and its original contributions.