Syntactic Interpretations in Qur’anic Exegesis According to the Basran and Kufan Schools

Al-Zamakhshari in Al-Kashshaf as a Model (A Descriptive and Analytical Study)

Abstract

This study explores syntactic interpretations among Qur’anic exegetes within the frameworks of the Basran and Kufan grammatical schools, taking al-Zamakhsharī’s al-Kashshāf as a case study, given his significance as one of the leading interpreters of the Qur’an. Since exegetes often adhered to distinct grammatical traditions—most notably those of Basra and Kufa—the research addresses a central question: did the divergence between these schools hinder exegetes from combining both approaches in their grammatical analysis of the Qur’an?

The findings demonstrate that al-Zamakhsharī, despite his well-documented inclination toward the Basran school and the clear dominance of the Basran method in al-Kashshāf, frequently employed a synthesis of both Basran and Kufan perspectives in his analysis. At times, he even adopted purely Kufan explanations without hesitation. While the Basran framework remained predominant, the integration of both traditions stands out as a distinctive and noteworthy feature of his exegetical method.

This tendency to reconcile divergent grammatical views highlights al-Zamakhsharī’s intellectual depth and his commitment to using grammar as a tool for elucidating meaning. His approach reveals an ongoing pursuit of interpretations that are rhetorically precise and semantically accurate, demonstrating a scholarly objectivity that transcends sectarian grammatical loyalties. Such a methodological stance deserves recognition, not only for its contribution to Qur’anic exegesis but also for exemplifying an academic ethos shared by exegetes who resisted narrow partisanship and instead sought explanations most aligned with eloquence and meaning