Forms and Functions of Qur'anic Intertextuality in Sūrat al-Mā'idah: A Michel Cuypers Perspective
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Abstract
This study examines Michel Cuypers’ interpretation of intertextuality in Sūrat al-Mā’idah through the perspective of Semitic rhetoric. The research is motivated by the ongoing debate concerning the relationship between the Qur’an and previous scriptures, which is often viewed merely as textual borrowing rather than a rhetorical strategy for constructing meaning. This study aims to identify the forms of intertextuality employed by Cuypers and to explain their rhetorical functions within the compositional structure of Sūrat al-Mā’idah. Employing qualitative library research, the study uses a descriptive-analytical approach based on Semitic rhetorical analysis and intertextuality theory. The findings reveal that intertextuality in Sūrat al-Mā’idah encompasses references to the Torah, the Gospels, the Targum, the Midrash, and the Mishnah. These intertextual relations operate through three principal functions: confirmative, corrective, and reconstructive. Rather than reproducing earlier narratives, the Qur’an reorganizes them within a coherent rhetorical structure to reinforce its theological worldview. The novelty of this study lies in conceptualizing the rhetorical functions of intertextuality, demonstrating that intertextual relations contribute not only to textual coherence but also to the production of meaning within Qur’anic discourse. The findings contribute to the development of Arabic linguistic and literary studies, particularly in Semitic rhetoric and Qur’anic stylistics.
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