The Rhetorical Foundations of Qur’anic Interpretation: A Comparative Study between Bint al-Shati’ and Fadil al-Samarrai

Abstract

The Rhetorical Method of the Holy Qur’an: A Comparative Study between Aisha bint al-Shati and Fadel Al-Samarrai                                                          

This research discusses the rhetorical approach in the interpretation of the Holy Qur’an, a method that relies on studying words, structures, and rhetorical styles to uncover the meanings of Qur’anic texts and highlight their linguistic and rhetorical miracles. The study aims to compare two prominent contemporary approaches: that of Aisha Abd al-Rahman (Bint al-Shati) and Fadel Al-Samarrai                                                                                                        

 The research begins by explaining the concept of “rhetoric” (al-Bayan) both linguistically and terminologically, tracing the emergence and development of rhetorical interpretation from its beginnings in the Prophetic era to its advancement by scholars of rhetoric and Qur’anic interpretation in the modern era. It also defines the concept of methodology and its importance in Qur’anic studies                                                                                                                          

The study then examines Bint al-Shati’s approach, which relied on literary and thematic analysis of the Qur’anic text under the influence of her teacher Amin Al-Khuli. She focused on collecting all Qur’anic verses related to a single topic, relying on Qur’anic context, and tracing words throughout the Qur’an to understand their precise meanings, while rejecting the idea of complete synonymy in the Qur’an                                                                                             

 presents the approach of Fadel Al-Samarrai, which is distinguished by its detailed analysis of structures, expressions, and rhetorical differences between similar verses. His method pays close attention to grammar, morphology, word order, omission and inclusion, aiming to reveal the secrets of Qur’anic expression                                                                                                                    

  The study concludes that both scholars share several common principles, including considering language as the primary key to understanding the Qur’an, rejecting complete synonymy, emphasizing context, and demonstrating the rhetorical miracle of the Qur’an. However, they differ in methodology: Bint al-Shati adopted a comprehensive inductive approach, while Al-Samarrai focused on detailed analysis of Qur’anic structures and subtle rhetorical The research ultimately concludes that both approaches complement one another, as each contributes in its own way to revealing the precision of the Qur’an’s linguistic structure and its rhetorical inimitabilitynuances