Tawjih al-Mutashabih al-Lafzi fi al-Quran al-Karim inda al-Mufassirin - Dirasa fi Tafsiri al-Razi wa al-Alusi

Tawjih al-Mutashabih al-Lafzi fi al-Quran al-Karim inda al-Mufassirin – Dirasa fi Tafsiri al-Razi wa al-Alusi (Explanation of Verbally Similar Verses in the Noble Quran according to Exegetes: A Study of the Commentaries of al-Razi and al-Alusi) is a Quranic studies work by Reem Abd al-Fattah al-Buhayri Tawjih al-Mutashabih al-L…+1. The book examines the methods used by Quranic commentators to analyze and harmonize verbally similar Quranic verses (al-mutashabih al-lafzi), taking the commentaries of Fakhr al-Din al-Razi and Shihab al-Din al-Alusi as primary case studies Tawjih al-Mutashabih al-L….

Purpose and Scope

The study focuses on the discipline of al-mutashabih al-lafzi, a branch of Quranic sciences concerned with clarifying the rhetorical and semantic reasons for differences between similar expressions across various passages of the Quran, demonstrating rhetorical nuances, and refuting claims of redundancy or mere repetition Tawjih al-Mutashabih al-L…. Noting the utility of distinguishing such verses for accurate memorization and contemplation, the author surveys how general exegetes, rather than dedicated authors of mutashabih manuals alone, contributed to this field Tawjih al-Mutashabih al-L…+1. The book selects al-Razi's Mafatih al-Ghayb and al-Alusi's Ruh al-Ma'ani to examine how each commentator explained these recurring textual variations Tawjih al-Mutashabih al-L…+1.

Structure

The work comprises an introduction, four main chapters, a conclusion, and indices of verses, prophetic traditions, sources, and subjects Tawjih al-Mutashabih al-L…+1:

• Introduction: Outlines the research problem, objectives, literature review, and study plan Tawjih al-Mutashabih al-L….
• Chapter One: Defines al-mutashabih linguistically and technically, outlines the importance of the science, reviews prominent historical authors in the field, and categorizes the types of verbal similarity in the Quran Tawjih al-Mutashabih al-L….
• Chapter Two: Examines al-Razi's biography and his commentary Mafatih al-Ghayb, detailing his methodology, sources, relationship to dedicated mutashabih scholars, unique interpretations, criticisms of his method, and applied examples across various categories of verbal similarity Tawjih al-Mutashabih al-L…+1.
• Chapter Three: Presents al-Alusi's biography and Ruh al-Ma'ani, discussing the characteristics of his hermeneutical approach, cited sources, stance toward earlier specialists, unique contributions, criticisms, and representative examples Tawjih al-Mutashabih al-L….
• Chapter Four: Conducts a comparative evaluation of al-Razi and al-Alusi, analyzing overarching methodological distinctions, shared positions and divergences at the levels of particles (huruf) and phrasing/syntax (al-lafz wa-l-tarkib), and instances where each commentator provided independent interpretations Tawjih al-Mutashabih al-L….

Exegetical Approaches and Findings

The study identifies key differences and commonalities between the two commentators:

• Coverage and Style: Al-Razi addressed approximately 300 instances of verbal similarity in his commentary, frequently employing an interrogative question-and-answer format reminiscent of al-Khatib al-Iskafi's method in Durrat al-Tanzil Tawjih al-Mutashabih al-L…+1. Al-Alusi treated roughly 150 instances, presenting differences directly without framing them as dialogical objections, akin to Burhan al-Din al-Kirmani's presentation Tawjih al-Mutashabih al-L…+1. Both authors generally combined conciseness with selective elaboration Tawjih al-Mutashabih al-L….
• Hermeneutical Tools: Al-Razi integrated linguistic analysis, syntax, canonical variant readings (qira'at), jurisprudence, hadith, and textual context Tawjih al-Mutashabih al-L…. Al-Alusi similarly drew on syntax, qira'at, semantic context, end-rhyme considerations (fawasil), and the principle of stylistic variation (al-tafannun fi al-ta'bir) Tawjih al-Mutashabih al-L….
• Original Contributions: Compared to specialized works of mutashabih, al-Razi provided unique explanations for more than 100 cases, whereas al-Alusi offered independent explanations for over 40 cases Tawjih al-Mutashabih al-L….

The author concludes that comprehensive commentaries contain substantial independent contributions to al-mutashabih al-lafzi that expand beyond traditional dedicated treatises, and recommends further investigation into other major commentaries Tawjih al-Mutashabih al-L….