Page 50 - Tafsir of surat at tawba repentance

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fundamentals and neutralizes them with unorthodox linguistic explanations. In
fact, the whole tafseer has a heavily linguistic, analytical slant. 144

3. Tafseer az-Zamakhsharee, al-Kash-shaaf ‘an Haqaa’iq at-Tanzeel

Mahmood ibn ‘Umar az-Zamakhsharee al-Khwaarazmee (1075-1144
CE/467-538 AH) was a Hanafee scholar who studied in Baghdaad and Khurasaan
and wrote a number of books on Arabic literature and grammar, usool al-fiqh,
hadeeth commentary, etc. Despite az-Zamakhsharee’s blatant Mu‘tazilee
leanings, his tafseer is considered a literary masterpiece. His explanations of the
various miraculous aspects of the Qur’aan were the most detailed and extensive
written, and his discussions of the beauty of Qur’aanic rhyme, rhythm, and
eloquence the most comprehensive. Az-Zamakhsharee uses his mastery of the
Arabic language to interpret the Qur’aan according to Mu‘tazilee thought. Verses
which conflict with his fundamentals are made allegorical and reinterpreted. His
handling of legal issues is brief and unbiased, and he rarely uses
Israa’eeleeyaat. 145

144
See at-Tafseer wal-Mufassiroon, vol. 1, pp. 410-36.
145
See at -Tafseer wal-Mufassiroon, vol. 1, pp. 437-89.

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