Al-Tabarsi's Approach to Interpreting the Holy Qur'an

The ”Majma' al-Bayan”Interpretation as a Model

Abstract

The fifth century AH was famous for the emergence of a group of highly skilled commentators, who took it upon themselves to delve into the Holy Quran and serve it. Various commentaries emerged, whose focus was no longer solely on explaining the ambiguous meanings of verses based on traditional sources, but rather on examining all the linguistic sciences that might lead to that meaning, including phonetics, morphology, syntax, and rhetoric. Among the most prominent of these commentaries is the commentary ”Majma' al-Bayan” (Exegesis) by Abu Ali al-Fadl ibn al-Hasan al-Tabarsi, one of the most prominent Shiite scholars known for his expertise in interpretation, language, and verification. Since this commentary's methodology differs from those of previous or contemporary commentaries, this study seeks to uncover the characteristics of this approach to interpretation by highlighting the themes addressed in his book and the linguistic benefits and rational arguments it contains, which contributed to defining the boundaries of this unique approach.