Review Essay: Al-Ḥākim al-Jishumī and the History and Study of Muʿtazilī Exegesis

The present essay surveys the most important qur'anic commentaries of the Mu'tazilah, whether these are still extant, have been lost, or have been reassembled from various other sources. Given that the Mu'tazilites’ exegetical output has suffered from neglect or loss from an early point in time, the recently published commentary of al-Hakim al-Jishumi constitutes a rich source for honing our understanding of Mu'tazili exegesis. The essay furthermore provides a critical assessment of the most important modern studies on Mu'tazili exegesis. Apart from their comparative dearth, these publications are often governed by preconceptions that betray the impact of theological disputes and widespread categorizations in the field of intellectual history. This creates an urgent need for critical reassessment in light of the fact that al-Hakim al-Jishumi’s exegetical practice and hermeneutical theory display evident similarity with, e.g., Sunni exegesis.