An Analytical Study of the Interpretation of al-Kashshāf in Light of the Causes of Differences in Tafsīr

This study undertakes an analytical examination of the phenomenon of differences in Qur’ānic interpretation, with special reference to al-Kashshāf, the celebrated exegesis by al-Zamakhsharī. The article begins by defining disagreement in tafsīr and explaining its scholarly importance within the broader discipline of Qur’ānic studies. It highlights how even the noble Ṣaḥābah (Companions of Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ) occasionally differed in their interpretation of certain verses, illustrating that interpretive variation has been present since the earliest generations. The study then explores the causes of these disagreements, including linguistic diversity, contextual circumstances, juristic reasoning, and methodological approaches to tafsīr. Concrete examples of ikhtilāf al-tafsīr are presented to demonstrate both the challenges and the benefits of scholarly disagreement, such as the enrichment of Qur’ānic understanding and the promotion of intellectual diversity within Islamic thought. The paper then introduces al-Zamakhsharī, the author of Tafsīr al-Kashshāf, outlining his methodology, theological inclinations, and linguistic precision. Selected examples from al-Kashshāf are analyzed to illustrate how interpretive disagreements manifest within his tafsīr, especially regarding issues of grammar, rhetoric, and theological perspectives. In conclusion, the study synthesizes the discussion by emphasizing that disagreement in tafsīr, when conducted within the boundaries of scholarly ethics, can serve as a source of intellectual richness rather than division. Finally, recommendations are offered for contemporary scholars on how to approach and benefit from differences in interpretation, followed by a comprehensive bibliography.