Comparative Study of the Commentators' Approach to Synonymy Process (Relying on Allameh Tabatabaii's Critique on Other Commentators' Works)

Abstract

Synonymy is one of the controversial methods full of multiple expressions used by commentators in order to comprehend and interpret the Quranic terms. This study aims to investigate the application of synonymy method used in Tafsir al-Mizan through the comparative analysis on Allameh Tabatabaii's critique on some commentators' works with the purpose of precise and scrupulous understanding of the terms. The results of the research indicate that the methods applied in synonymy have one aspect in common showing synonyms don't correspond with each other completely. Critiques of Alaameh include verbal and nonverbal contexts because what is neglected by some commentators such as Ragheb, Al-Zamakhshari, Fakhr Al-Razi, and the author of Tafsir al-Manar is in fact negligence to in-text factors such as opposites, collocations, and addressing type of the verses, in addition to out-text factors such as narratives, verbal beliefs, place and time of the revelation of the verses. All of these factors lead the commentator to a definite perception of the terms and understanding the process of synonymy as well as other semantic relations named as semi-synonym (Kalmotaradef). In the section of comparative analysis, some innovative examples of Allameh showing his comprehensive look to the evidences in the application of synonymy compared to other commentators criticized in Tafsir al-Mizan are mentioned.

Keywords

• synonymy
• comparative analysis
• tafsir al-mizan
• critique of commentators