Al-Kashshāf : Al-Zamakhsharī's Mu'tazilite exegesis of the Qur'ān

The book analyzes extensively al-Zamakhsharī’s tafsīr al Kashshāf within the framework of the Mu‘tazilites’ five principles: __(usūl al-khamsa)__ of their theology. Andrew Lane in his book entitled “A Traditional Mu‘tazilite Qur’ān Commentary: The Kashshāf of Jār Allāh al-Zamakhsharī” states that al-Kashshāf is not a Mu‘tazilite tafsīr of the Qur’ān. This book has been written to prove that al-Zamakhsharī’s tafsīr is completely in accord with the Mu‘tazilites’ theology which is embodied in their five principles. The book is divided into two parts. Part I comprises of al Zamakhsharī’s biography, al-Kashshāf, and his methodology of tafsīr. Part II covers comprehensive analysis of the five principles: unity of God; justice; the promise and the threat of divine reward and punishment; the intermediate position between belief and unbelief; and enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong. The book concludes that al-Zamakhsharī’s al-Kashshāf is a Mu‘tazilite tafsīr completely adhering to the Mu‘tazilites’ theology. The book analyzes extensively al-Zamakhsharet#299;’s tafset#299;r al Kashshet#257;f within the framework of the Mu‘tazilites’ five principles: (usūl al-khamsa) of their theology. Andrew Lane in his book entitled "A Traditional Mu‘tazilite Qur’et#257;n Commentary: The Kashshet#257;f of Jet#257;r Allet#257;h al-Zamakhsharet#299;" states that al-Kashshet#257;f is not a Mu‘tazilite tafset#299;r of the Qur’et#257;n. This book has been written to prove that al-Zamakhsharet#299;’s tafset#299;r is completely in accord with the Mu‘tazilites’ theology which is embodied in their five principles. The book is divided into two parts. Part I comprises of al Zamakhsharet#299;’s biography, al-Kashshet#257;f, and his methodology of tafset#299;r. Part II covers comprehensive analysis of the five principles: unity of God; justice; the promise and the threat of divine reward and punishment; the intermediate position between belief and unbelief; and enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong. The book concludes that al-Zamakhsharet#299;’s al-Kashshet#257;f is a Mu‘tazilite tafset#299;r completely adhering to the Mu‘tazilites’ theology Contents 7 Preface 9 Introduction 11 Part I: Al-Zamakhsharī’ Life and Works 21 Chapter 1. Al-Zamakhsharī’s Biography 21 Chapter 2. Al-Kashshāf 43 Chapter 3. Al-Zamakhsharī’s Methodology of Tafsīr 68 Part II: The Five Principles 107 Chapter 4. The Five Principles (al-uṣūl al-khamsa) 107 Chapter 5. Second Principle: Justice (‘adl) 149 Chapter 6. Third Principle: The Promise and the Threat (al-waʻd wa al-waʻīd) 172 Chapter 7. Fourth Principle: The Intermediate Position between Belief and Unbelief (al-manzila bayna al-manzilatayn) 187 Chapter 8. Fifth Principle: Enjoining what is Right and Forbidding what is Wrong (al-amr bi al-maʻrūf wa al-nahy ‘an al-munkar) 198 Conclusion 205 Appendix: Al-Zamakhsharī’s Scholarly Contribution 215 Bibliography 238 Index of Names 256 Index of Subjects 262 Index of Qurʼān Citations 265 The book deals with al-Zamakhshar`s tafs al-Kashshf within the framework of the Mutazilites` five unity of God justice promise and threat of divine reward and punishment the intermediate position between belief and unbelief and enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong. Despite being subject to orthodox Sunn criticism, it has always been cited, adopted, and commented upon by all schools of thoughts in Islam. The book deals with al-Zamakhsharī's al-Kashshāf within the framework of the Mu'tazilites' five principles