Content Analysis of Abū ʿUbayda Maʿmar b. al-Muthannā’s Majāz al-Qurʾān in the Context of Its Relationship with Linguistics and Tafsīr

Abū ʿUbayda Maʿmar ibn al-Muthannā (d. 209/824), one of the prominent scholars of the second century AH, authored Majāz al-Qur'ān, a significant work reflecting the interrelations among Islamic studies during the compilation period. Although the conceptual framework of the term “majāz” had not yet been fully defined at the time, its central placement in this early work on Qur'anic language and exegesis is noteworthy. The work lies at the intersection of various disciplines due to its diverse subject matter, making it a valuable resource for multiple fields of Islamic scholarship. This article primarily aims to conduct a content analysis of Majāz al-Qur'ān and to determine its relationship with and impact on the relevant scientific disciplines. To achieve these objectives, the study employs a con-tent analysis method, examining the work's content and its connections with both linguistics and exe-gesis (tafsīr). This study analyzes Abū ‘Ubayda’s usage of the term majāz (figurative expression), demonstrating that he employed it in a broader sense than its later, more narrowly defined meaning in the science of rhetoric (‘ilm al-balāgha). Through this term, he sought to examine various linguistic forms and modes of expression in the Qur’ān that deviate from conventional usage. His analyses not only contributed to foundational studies in morphology (ṣarf) and syntax (naḥw), but also laid the groundwork for the later establishment of balāgha as an independent discipline. Furthermore, this study refutes certain scholars’ claims that Abū ‘Ubayda did not understand majāz within the majāz-ḥaqīqa (figurative-literal) dichotomy, providing counterexamples that substantiate the contrary. In addition to these, by focusing on the Qur'anic text, the work also became integral to exegesis. (tafsīr). In a period when exegetical activities were predominantly based on narrations (riwāyah), Abū ʿUbayda's attempt to offer an alternative approach positioned him as one of the pioneers of the rational (dirāyah) school of exegesis, which relies on linguistic analysis. Despite criticism from some exegetes, it became an indispensable work in later periods. This study highlights that Majāz al-Qur'ān has been a source of reference for scholars from various schools and disciplines. Examining this work sheds light on the intellectual dynamism of the period in which it was written. Majāz al-Qur'ān is a landmark work that not only reflects the intellectual milieu of its time but also bridges early Islamic scholarship with the more systematized scholarly tradition of later periods. Its analysis provides valuable insights into the evolution of Islamic sciences and the interconnectedness of their various disciplines.