Study of the Book of Tafsir al-Baḥr al-Muḥīṭ by Abū Ḥayyān al-Andalusī

Abstract

*Tafsir al-Baḥr al-Muḥīṭ* by Abū Ḥayyān al-Andalusī is a monumental work within the corpus of classical exegesis, having made a significant contribution to the development of the science of *tafsīr* (exegesis), particularly regarding the linguistic aspects of the Qur’an. The work is renowned for its profound attention to *naḥw* (syntax), *ṣarf* (morphology), *balāghah* (rhetoric), *i‘rāb* (grammatical analysis), and *qirā’at* (modes of recitation), establishing it as a primary reference in the study of Qur’anic linguistics. This research aims to examine the characteristics of *Tafsir al-Baḥr al-Muḥīṭ* by exploring the biography of Abū Ḥayyān al-Andalusī, his exegetical methodology, the nature of the commentary, and the views of scholars regarding the work. This study employs a library research method utilizing a descriptive-analytical approach. Primary data consists of the text of *Tafsir al-Baḥr al-Muḥīṭ* itself, while secondary data is derived from other exegetical works, books, scholarly journals, and relevant literature. The findings indicate that *Tafsir al-Baḥr al-Muḥīṭ* employs the *taḥlīlī* (analytical) method, following the sequential order of verses and chapters found in the Qur’anic *muṣḥaf*. Its exegetical style is classified as *lughawī* (linguistic), as it is dominated by analyses of linguistic elements such as syntax, morphology, rhetoric, grammatical analysis, and recitation variants. Furthermore, scholars regard this work as highly authoritative in the field of Qur’anic linguistics and as a crucial reference for gaining a deep understanding of the linguistic structure and meaning of Qur’anic verses.