IQRA ,DR HAFIZ MOHSIN ZIA QAZI
DOI: https://doi.org/The Qurʾānic narrative of Al-Fīl (the Elephant), preserved in Sūrat al-Fīl (Q. 105), occupies a distinctive place within Islamic intellectual history, Qurʾānic exegesis, and Muslim collective memory. The account commemorates the attempted assault on the Kaʿbah by the army of Abraha and the subsequent divine intervention that miraculously thwarted the expedition. While classical Muslim exegetes have generally interpreted the episode as a historical manifestation of divine sovereignty and protection of the sacred sanctuary, modern academic scholarship particularly as represented in Brill’s Encyclopaedia of the Qurʾān has approached the narrative through historical-critical, philological, and comparative frameworks. Such approaches have generated significant scholarly debate concerning historical authenticity, interpretive methodology, and the epistemological foundations of Qurʾānic studies. This article critically examines the “Elephant” entry in Brill’s Encyclopaedia of the Qurʾān (Letter E) through an interdisciplinary and AI-assisted hermeneutical framework. Employing qualitative textual analysis, comparative exegesis, and digital humanities methodologies, the study juxtaposes classical Islamic interpretations with contemporary Western academic perspectives. Furthermore, it investigates the emerging role of Artificial Intelligence in Qurʾānic interpretation, arguing that AI-assisted hermeneutics can facilitate comprehensive textual analysis, identify recurring interpretive patterns, and enhance interdisciplinary engagement, provided that it remains subordinate to established principles of Islamic scholarship. The study concludes that the Qurʾānic narrative of al-Fīl continues to offer profound theological, historical, and ethical insights and that responsible integration of AI technologies may enrich contemporary Qurʾānic studies without compromising the epistemological integrity of the Islamic exegetical tradition.
