Rhetorical Disagreements between Ibn ʿĀshūr's al-Taḥrīr wa al-Tanwīr and al-Zamakhsharī's al-Kashshāf: An Analytical Study

Abstract

This research article examines Ibn ʿĀshūr's principal rhetorical disagreements with al-Zamakhsharī's al-Kashshāf as reflected in al-Taḥrīr wa al-Tanwīr. It focuses on key rhetorical issues, including grammatical ellipsis (taqdīr), restriction (ḥaṣr), iltifāt, istiʾnāf, taḍmīn, Fāʾ al-Faṣīḥah, and the rhetorical use of verb tenses. The Qur'an has continually inspired scholarly inquiry into its linguistic and rhetorical dimensions, with successive exegetes building upon the contributions of their predecessors. Among the most influential of these was al-Zamakhsharī, whose al-Kashshāf remains a foundational work in Qur'anic rhetoric and a major source for Ibn ʿĀshūr. Through a comparative analytical approach, this study demonstrates that Ibn ʿĀshūr critically evaluates al-Zamakhsharī's interpretations in light of Qur'anic coherence (naẓm), context, and rhetorical principles. While maintaining profound respect for his predecessor, Ibn ʿĀshūr offers constructive criticism that refines and expands earlier rhetorical insights. The study argues that his engagement with al-Kashshāf not only preserves the classical tradition of Qur'anic rhetorical exegesis but also advances it through rigorous and independent analysis.