چكيده لاتين
Abstract
This research examines and analyzes Fakhr al-Din al-Razi’s (544-606 AH) foundations and methodology in dating the verses and chapters of the Holy Quran in his *Mafatih al-Ghaib* commentary. Quranic dating, as an important tool in interpretative studies, plays a role in determining the approximate time of the verses’ revelation during the prophetic period. The aim of this study is to extract and evaluate the dating methods used by Fakhr al-Razi and to explain the principles governing them. Fakhr al-Razi, adopting a theological and rationalist approach, has paid attention to issues such as the Meccan and Medinan nature of the chapters, the occasions of revelation (asbab al-nuzul), and the abrogating and abrogated verses.
This research is organized into three chapters: The first chapter is devoted to general concepts related to dating, and introduces Fakhr al-Razi and his commentary. The second chapter examines the foundations of dating from Fakhr al-Raziʹs perspective, including the types of revelation (gradual and sudden), identifying Meccan and Medinan chapters (using the table presented in his commentary), different views regarding the arrangement of verses and chapters, and the nature of chapter revelation (continuous or discontinuous). The third chapter provides a detailed analysis of Fakhr al-Raziʹs dating methods, including the narrative method (time-bound and non-time-bound narrations of the occasions of revelation, the order of chapter revelation according to Fakhr al-Razi, and historical reports related to battles such as Badr, Uhud, Ahzab, Hudaybiyyah, the conquest of Mecca, Hunayn, and Tabuk) and the interpretative (ijtihadi) method (context, rulings and worships, and analysis of ambiguities).
The results of this research show that Fakhr al-Razi employs a combination of narrative and interpretative methods in dating the verses and chapters. Specifically, Fakhr al-Razi, in his commentary, believes in the interference of Meccan and Medinan revelation and does not subscribe to the notion of the continuous revelation of a chapter. In some instances, he accurately dates verses by referring to the narrations of the occasions of revelation (e.g., verse 194 of Surah Al-Baqarah). However, his reliance on narrations without careful examination of their reliability, as well as insufficient attention to the overall context of the chapter in certain cases, are among the weaknesses of his methodology. Furthermore, the contradiction in determining the last chapter revealed (Al-Tawbah or Al-Maʹidah) is also evident in his approach.
By providing a novel analysis of Fakhr al-Raziʹs approach to Quranic dating, this research contributes to a deeper understanding of the process of revelation and the gradual formation of Islamic law.
Keywords: Chronology, Mafātīḥ al-Ghayb, Fakhr Zārī, Foundations, Method.
