The Uniqueness of ‘Ali Al-Shabuni’s Methodology in the Book of Shafwah Al-Tafasir: Study to the Interpretation of Surah Al-Rahman

Abstract

The Qur'an has proven to have inspired and produced many tafseer books with various approaches, methods and interpretive tendencies. The book of Shafwah Al-Tafasir is a contemporary tafseer hwo has written by Ali Al-Shabuni which has a unique and distinctive methodology. Because of this, this article aims to examine the exegetical methodology applied by Ali Al-Shabuni in interpreting surah Al-Rahman and to find out the advantages and weaknesses of its methodology. The results of this study indicate that the uniqueness of the methodology applied by Al-Shabuni in interpreting surah Al-Rahman is combine the riwayah and dirayah approaches and the tahlili and ijmali methods. In addition, it also use the tendency of al-adabi al-ijtima’i and the systematic, and contemporary interpretive techniques with additional footnotes to make it easier for readers to refer to the original source. As well as, the Ali Al-Shabuni’s methodology in the Book’s Shafwah Al-Tafasir has the advantages and the weaknesses.
Keywords: Surah Al-Rahman; ‘Ali Al Shabuni; Shafwah Al-Tafasir; uniqueness; methodology; interpretation