Ibn ‘Ashur’s Rhetorical Sensibility and His Approach to Demonstrating Qur’anic Inimitability in Al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir

Abstract

The rhetorical inimitability (iʿjāz balāghī) of the Holy Qur’an is one of the most significant subjects that has engaged scholars throughout Islamic history. From the earliest centuries, specialists in various sciences devoted great effort to studying it, realizing that it directly relates to faith, confirms the truthfulness of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), and affirms the divine origin of the Qur’an. Among the eminent scholars who contributed profoundly to this field is the Tunisian exegete Sheikh Muhammad al-Tahir Ibn ‘Ashur. Drawing on the insights of earlier scholars, he developed a refined rhetorical sensibility that enabled him to uncover subtle stylistic and linguistic miracles of the Qur’anic text.

In his monumental exegesis, Al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir, Ibn ‘Ashur employed the tools of rhetoric and linguistics to reveal the eloquence and divine harmony embedded in the Qur’an’s words, structures, and compositions. This study examines his rhetorical perspective and methodological approach in demonstrating Qur’anic inimitability through detailed analysis of letters, words, sentences, verses, and surahs. The research highlights Ibn ‘Ashur’s distinctive contribution to the field of Qur’anic rhetoric and his pivotal role in renewing the study of eloquence in modern Qur’anic interpretation.