Al-Baghawī’s Method in Exegesis
Maʿālim al-Tanzīl is a medium-length work in which its author transmitted from the exegetes among the Companions, the Successors, and those after them. It is among the finest, noblest, and most eminent of books: it contains sound interpretations, is free from obscurity and artificiality in elucidating the Qur’anic text, and is embellished with Prophetic hadiths and reports that are predominantly authentic.
The distinguished scholar Ibn Taymiyyah said: “Al-Baghawī’s exegesis is an abridgment of al-Thaʿlabī’s, but he safeguarded his exegesis from fabricated hadiths and innovated views.” When he was asked which exegesis was closest to the Quran and the sunnah—al-Zamakhsharī’s, al-Qurṭubī’s, al-Baghawī’s, or another—he replied: “As for the three exegeses asked about, the one safest from blameworthy innovation and weak hadiths is al-Baghawī’s.” (1)
Al-Baghawī explained something of this in his introduction, saying:
“A group of my sincere companions, eager to acquire knowledge, asked me to write a book on the features of revelation and its exegesis. I responded to their request, relying upon Allah’s bounty and facilitation, and complying with the Messenger of Allah’s counsel concerning them, as related by Abū Saʿīd al-Khudrī, may Allah be pleased with him: the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, ‘Men will come to you from the farthest regions of the earth to seek understanding of the religion. When they come to you, then treat them well.’” (2) “I also followed the example of the early righteous predecessors in recording knowledge, so that it might be preserved for later generations.”
May Allah abundantly reward him: he responded to the desire of his students and companions, acting upon the Messenger of Allah’s counsel and following the righteous predecessors in recording knowledge. He says: “With the help of Allah Most High and His gracious enabling, I compiled for them a medium-length work, between the wearisomely lengthy and the deficiently brief, which I hope will benefit whoever undertakes to acquire it with earnest intent.” (3)
Through examination, we may identify Imam al-Baghawī’s method and summarize it as follows:
- He explains the noble verse in clear and concise language, without artificiality in expression or excessive length; he confines himself