Al-Kashshāf: A Unique Qur'anic Commentary Rooted in Mu'tazilite Thought

✦ Introduction to the Commentator​

Name: Abū al-Qāsim Maḥmūd ibn ʿUmar ibn Muḥammad al-Khwārazmī, al-Ḥanafī, al-Muʿtazilī
Honorific Title: Jār Allāh

❖ The Tafsīr: Al-Kashshāf​

Full Title: Al-Kashshāf ʿan Ḥaqāʾiq al-Tanzīl wa ʿUyūn al-Aqāwīl fī Wujūh al-Taʾwīl
This commentary aims to expose the linguistic, rhetorical, and literary dimensions of the Qur’an, while often aligning its interpretations with Muʿtazilite theology.

✿ Beliefs and Intellectual Approach​

Al-Zamakhsharī (Abū al-Qāsim) was a Muʿtazilite theologian and firmly defended his beliefs using logical arguments and textual interpretation. He strategically sought support for his doctrine from Qur’anic verses and offered special reinterpretations for verses that contradict Muʿtazilite positions.

He frequently applied verses revealed about disbelievers to Ahl al-Sunnah, labeling them with terms like:

• Ḥashawiyyah (literalists)
• Mujabbirah (fatalists)
• Mushabbihah (anthropomorphists)
  

✔ Scholarly Warning​

Ḥāfiẓ al-Dhahabī remarked:
"He was righteous, but a passionate propagator of Muʿtazilism. May Allah protect us! So be cautious of his Kashshāf."
( Al-Mīzān, 4/78)

◈ Distinctive Features of Al-Kashshāf​

✔ Rhetoric and Eloquence:
It offers deep analysis of Arabic linguistics and eloquence, drawing from classical poetry and grammar.

✔ Avoidance of Isra'īliyyāt:
He rarely cited Israelite traditions, and when he did, used generic phrases like "ruwiya" and ended with "wa-Allāhu aʿlam."

✔ Limited Legal Discourse:
He discusses fiqh (jurisprudence) briefly and maintains a moderate tone in expressing his Ḥanafī affiliation.

✔ Manipulation of Qur'anic Meaning:
Where Qur’anic words contradict Muʿtazilite theology, he often reinterprets them through figurative, metaphorical, or linguistic twists.

✔ Use of Fabricated Hadiths:
At the end of each sūrah, he mentions fabricated narrations (mawḍūʿ ḥadīths) about its merits, which calls for caution.

❖ Summary​

Al-Kashshāf by al-Zamakhsharī is an intellectually rich and stylistically powerful Qur’anic commentary. It stands out for its mastery in Arabic rhetoric, lexicon, and grammar. However, it must be read with caution due to:

• Frequent promotion of Muʿtazilite ideology
• Reinterpretation of theological concepts away from mainstream Sunni orthodoxy
• Misdirection of certain verses against Ahl al-Sunnah
• Use of derogatory labels for traditional Sunni scholars

As al-Dhahabī advised, it is beneficial for its language, but dangerous for its theological underpinnings.