CRITICAL STUDY OF DR. ṢUBḤĪ ṢĀLIḤ’S STANCES IN THE QUR’ĀNIC SCIENCES

Abstract

The field of Qur’ānic Sciences owes to numerous Muslim scholars for their commendable literary contributions. A notable endeavor of the twentieth century is “Mabāḥith fī ‘Ulūm al-Qur’ān” by Dr. Ṣubḥī al-Ṣāliḥ, an eminent Lebanese scholar. He aimed to present his indagations in relatively eclectic manner, rather than prevalent traditional approach. The literature available by now to critically analyze his solitude and reproach towards some significant topics of the subject was deemed to be insufficient. Hence, this article will censoriously analyze those stances of the author in which either he showed indulgence or secluded from the majority; for instance: his misconceived explorations about the first book of the Qur’ānic Sciences, Descent of the Qur’ān, Maxims of Haḍrat ‘Alī and ‘Abdullāh b. Mas‘ūd (May Allah be pleased with them), Abrogation in the Qur’ān, divinity of the ‘Uthmānic Script and its obligatory compliance. Moreover, his reservations will be concluded through assertive justifications aided by Qur’ānic verses, Prophetic Traditions and scholarly opinions.