Exploring the Bible Through Qurʾānic Lens: An Analysis of Ibn Qutayba’s Approach in Dalāʾil Nubuwwa

Persistent disputation from non‐Muslim communities arguing against the veracity of Muḥammad’s prophethood has undoubtedly served to contribute to the steady growth of Dalāʾil literature at the formative period of Islam. Besides intensifying Dalāʾil works with evidentiary miracles to prove the authenticity of Muhammad’s prophethood, one of the popular styles of argument employed by the scholars of Islam is adducing Qurʾānic and Biblical verses and its hermeneutic to substantiate the prophethood of Muhammad. In the ninth century, Ibn Qutayba composed his Dalāʾil Nubuwwa with a unique approach in which he utilised the content of the Qurʾān to explore the meaning of the Bible. This study seeks to explore the novelty of his approach in utilising the Qurʾān to elucidate Biblical passages. The study employs a descriptive, comparative and critical approach, in which it analyses and extracts the author’s original approach in explaining the legitimacy of Muḥammad’s prophethood. The study in its finding affirms that Ibn Qutayba invented an innovative approach, exploring the meaning of scripture previously understood exclusively through Judaeo‐Christian theological methodology alone. This is where the novelty of his approach is distinguished.