Quranic Argumentation in Seerah Literature: Methods and Patterns of Citation in « Dr. Zaheer Abbas Qadri’s » « The Divine Blueprint: Leadership and the Life of the Final Prophet»

DOI:https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21960496

Abstract

The Quran occupies a foundational role in Islamic biographical literature (Seerah), serving simultaneously as a primary source, a validating authority, and a hermeneutical framework for the narration of prophetic events. This article undertakes a systematic examination of Quranic citation as practiced in Dr. Zaheer Abbas Qadri’s “The Divine Blueprint: Leadership and Life of the Final Prophet” ﷺ (2026), a comprehensive English-language Seerah work covering the full prophetic biography across eighteen chapters. Drawing directly from the textual evidence embedded throughout the book, this study identifies and analyses the patterns, functions, and contexts in which Quranic verses are cited—ranging from theological argumentation and moral instruction to legal codification, historical corroboration, and emotional consolation. The analysis reveals five dominant modes of Quranic employment in this Seerah: (1) citation as doctrinal foundation, (2) citation as event corroboration, (3) citation as legislative authority, (4) citation as psychological and spiritual guidance, and (5) citation as polemical rebuttal. By systematically mapping these citations with precise surah and ayah references alongside corresponding page numbers and chapter headings, this article offers a valuable research tool for scholars of prophetic biography, Islamic hermeneutics, and Quranic studies.