Imam Al-Ṭabarī’s Analysis of the Polemic Position of Basmala in Surah Al-Fatihah: A Study of Paradoxical Views

The diversity of interpretations of the Holy Qur’an is inevitable, largely due to methodological differences, specifically the riwāyah method and ijtihad. In the debate over whether the recitation of the basmalah is part of al-Fatihah, some commentators consistently employ the riwāyah method. Howeve...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Abd Muin, Aswadi Aswadi, Umar Zakka, M. Tohir
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Universitas Islam Negeri Sultan Syarif Kasim Riau 2025-06-01
Series:Jurnal Ushuluddin
Subjects:
Online Access:https://ejournal.uin-suska.ac.id/index.php/ushuludin/article/view/36041
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850111813777096704
author Abd Muin
Aswadi Aswadi
Umar Zakka
M. Tohir
author_facet Abd Muin
Aswadi Aswadi
Umar Zakka
M. Tohir
author_sort Abd Muin
collection DOAJ
description The diversity of interpretations of the Holy Qur’an is inevitable, largely due to methodological differences, specifically the riwāyah method and ijtihad. In the debate over whether the recitation of the basmalah is part of al-Fatihah, some commentators consistently employ the riwāyah method. However, al-Ṭabārī approached the status of the basmalah recitation in al-Fatihah solely through ijtihad. Consequently, the author examines this issue using a qualitative approach grounded in library research. The findings indicate that al-Ṭabārī explicitly opposes the inclusion of the basmalah as part of al-Fatihah. He argues that if the basmalah were indeed a verse of surat al-Fatihah, it would result in the phrase in one Surāh without any separation, and he does not cite any riwāyah sources to support his argument. Al-Ṭabārī's perspective presents a paradox based on two aspects. First, his reliance on pure rationality contradicts the concept of the Holy Qur’an's composition, which is tawqīfī, meaning that al-Ṭabārī should depend on information from the Prophet for legitimization. Second, his rational approach in rejecting the basmalah's status as a verse of al-Fatihah contradicts al-Ṭabārī’s methodological commitment to interpreting the Holy Qur’an based on information from the Prophet and the interpretations of the salaf generation
format Article
id doaj-art-bfd9fe4a5fbc44448528c40a60b00809
institution OA Journals
issn 1412-0909
2407-8247
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher Universitas Islam Negeri Sultan Syarif Kasim Riau
record_format Article
series Jurnal Ushuluddin
spelling doaj-art-bfd9fe4a5fbc44448528c40a60b008092025-08-20T02:37:33ZengUniversitas Islam Negeri Sultan Syarif Kasim RiauJurnal Ushuluddin1412-09092407-82472025-06-0133115617410.24014/jush.v33i1.3604110620Imam Al-Ṭabarī’s Analysis of the Polemic Position of Basmala in Surah Al-Fatihah: A Study of Paradoxical ViewsAbd Muin0Aswadi Aswadi1Umar Zakka2M. Tohir3Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Ushuluddin Darussalam BangkalanUniversitas Islam Negeri Sunan Ampel SurabayaSekolah Tinggi Ilmu Ushuluddin Darussalam BangkalanSekolah Tinggi Ilmu Ushuluddin Darussalam BangkalanThe diversity of interpretations of the Holy Qur’an is inevitable, largely due to methodological differences, specifically the riwāyah method and ijtihad. In the debate over whether the recitation of the basmalah is part of al-Fatihah, some commentators consistently employ the riwāyah method. However, al-Ṭabārī approached the status of the basmalah recitation in al-Fatihah solely through ijtihad. Consequently, the author examines this issue using a qualitative approach grounded in library research. The findings indicate that al-Ṭabārī explicitly opposes the inclusion of the basmalah as part of al-Fatihah. He argues that if the basmalah were indeed a verse of surat al-Fatihah, it would result in the phrase in one Surāh without any separation, and he does not cite any riwāyah sources to support his argument. Al-Ṭabārī's perspective presents a paradox based on two aspects. First, his reliance on pure rationality contradicts the concept of the Holy Qur’an's composition, which is tawqīfī, meaning that al-Ṭabārī should depend on information from the Prophet for legitimization. Second, his rational approach in rejecting the basmalah's status as a verse of al-Fatihah contradicts al-Ṭabārī’s methodological commitment to interpreting the Holy Qur’an based on information from the Prophet and the interpretations of the salaf generationhttps://ejournal.uin-suska.ac.id/index.php/ushuludin/article/view/36041imam al-ṭabarīposition of basmalahsurāh of al-fatihah
spellingShingle Abd Muin
Aswadi Aswadi
Umar Zakka
M. Tohir
Imam Al-Ṭabarī’s Analysis of the Polemic Position of Basmala in Surah Al-Fatihah: A Study of Paradoxical Views
Jurnal Ushuluddin
imam al-ṭabarī
position of basmalah
surāh of al-fatihah
title Imam Al-Ṭabarī’s Analysis of the Polemic Position of Basmala in Surah Al-Fatihah: A Study of Paradoxical Views
title_full Imam Al-Ṭabarī’s Analysis of the Polemic Position of Basmala in Surah Al-Fatihah: A Study of Paradoxical Views
title_fullStr Imam Al-Ṭabarī’s Analysis of the Polemic Position of Basmala in Surah Al-Fatihah: A Study of Paradoxical Views
title_full_unstemmed Imam Al-Ṭabarī’s Analysis of the Polemic Position of Basmala in Surah Al-Fatihah: A Study of Paradoxical Views
title_short Imam Al-Ṭabarī’s Analysis of the Polemic Position of Basmala in Surah Al-Fatihah: A Study of Paradoxical Views
title_sort imam al tabari s analysis of the polemic position of basmala in surah al fatihah a study of paradoxical views
topic imam al-ṭabarī
position of basmalah
surāh of al-fatihah
url https://ejournal.uin-suska.ac.id/index.php/ushuludin/article/view/36041
work_keys_str_mv AT abdmuin imamaltabarisanalysisofthepolemicpositionofbasmalainsurahalfatihahastudyofparadoxicalviews
AT aswadiaswadi imamaltabarisanalysisofthepolemicpositionofbasmalainsurahalfatihahastudyofparadoxicalviews
AT umarzakka imamaltabarisanalysisofthepolemicpositionofbasmalainsurahalfatihahastudyofparadoxicalviews
AT mtohir imamaltabarisanalysisofthepolemicpositionofbasmalainsurahalfatihahastudyofparadoxicalviews