Textual Context and Translation in the Qur’ān

<jats:p>This study comparatively analyses verses 2:146 and 6:20, addressing the frequent confusion between these two Qur’anic passages arising from their similar wording, particularly the use of the pronoun hu (ya'rifunahu) in both Qur’anic translations and exegetical works. While verse 6:20, revealed in Mecca, clearly refers to the recognition of the Prophet Muhammad by the People of the Book and Meccan Pagans, verse 2:146 belongs to the Medinan context of the change of the qiblah (direction). A contextual and sequential reading demonstrates that in Qurʾān 2:146 the pronoun refers not to the Prophet himself but to the known truth that the Kaʿbah (Holy shrine) was the qiblah of Abraham (peace be on him) and the prophets after him. By examining the immediate context (siyāq-sibāq), broader Qurʾānic coherence, and classical exegetical material, the article argues that similar linguistic structures do not necessarily entail identical referents. The study emphasizes methodological rigour, highlighting the primacy of context and Qurʾānic integrity over mechanical parallelism in interpretation.</jats:p>