Fights and Flights: Two Underrated ‘Alternatives’ to Dominant Readings in <i>tafsīr</i>

Does Q. 2:178 legislate retaliation for murder? Was Abraham commanded to chop up some birds according 2:260? This paper examines two cases in which a dominant view Muslim exegesis has existed alongside an alternative that is minimised or criticised, while arguably being closer fit the text and context of verse. The first, ‘historicist’ reading qiṣāṣ verse (Q. 2:178), was picked advocated by influential Ibn Taymiyya (d. 728/1328), yet it even less footprint exegetical works subsequent him. second, ‘naturalist’ 2:260) advanced Abū al-Iṣfahānī 322/934), been adopted modern exegetes translators, but largely dismissed as strained contrary consensus. As well charting reception these competing views, I analyse them comparatively, phrase phrase, argue alternatives are more plausible, indeed fruitful, than commonly accepted interpretations. juxtaposition invites examination key hermeneutical concepts tafsīr tradition.