Ahmad bin Abdullah al-Zahrani
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Ahmad bin Abdullah al-Zahrani is a contemporary Saudi scholar of Quranic studies and exegesis (tafsir). He is known for his research on Quranic hermeneutics, particularly his treatise al-Tafsir al-Mawdui lil-Quran al-Karim wa Namadhij Minhu (Thematic Exegesis of the Holy Quran and Selected Models from It) .
Scholarly Contributions and Methodology
Al-Zahrani's work primarily focuses on the theoretical framing and methodology of thematic exegesis (al-tafsir al-mawdui), published in 1423 AH (2002 CE) by the Deanship of Scientific Research at the Islamic University of Madinah . In his methodological framing, he adopts the definition of exegesis formulated by Badr al-Din al-Zarkashi as the noble science through which the Book of God revealed to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is understood .
He defines thematic exegesis as the dedicated, comprehensive study of Quranic verses that address a single subject and a unified aim, gathering verses across diverse chapters regardless of varying expressions . Under his outlined methodology, this synthesis requires accounting for chronological order (the preceding and succeeding revelations), occasional contexts of revelation (asbab al-nuzul), the Prophetic Sunnah, and the explanatory statements of the early generations (al-salaf al-salih) . Al-Zahrani emphasizes the utility of thematic exegesis as an application of explaining the Quran by the Quran, clarifying legislative themes and divine guidance, understanding Quranic rhetorical styles, and refuting doubts and theological deviations .
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List of Works
al-Tafsir al-Mawdui lil-Quran al-Karim wa Namadhij Minhu is a treatise on Quranic studies published in 1423 AH / 2002 CE. The work outlines the theoretical foundations, historical lineage, and methodology of thematic Quranic exegesis (al-tafsir al-mawdui), accompanied by applied interpretive models.