The rhetorical style of iltifāt in juz’ ‘Amma: A comparative study between Al-Zamakhsharī’s Al-Kashshāf and Ibn ‘Ashūr’s Al-Taḥrīr wa Al-Tanwīr

Abstract

This study examines the rhetorical device of iltifāt in Juz ʿAmma and its role in directing meaning, through a comparative and applied analysis of al-Kashshāf by al-Zamakhsharī and al-Taḥrīr wa al-Tanwīr by Ibn ʿĀshūr. Iltifāt is considered one of the most prominent rhetorical features in the Qur’an, as it manifests in shifts between pronouns, tenses, and modes of address, thereby adding unique rhetorical depth and aesthetic richness to the text. The research aims to identify the various forms of iltifāt in Juz ʿAmma, analyze its semantic and rhetorical impact, and compare how the two exegetes approach this stylistic device in their interpretations. Using analytical and comparative methods, the study finds that Ibn ʿĀshūr frequently highlights iltifāt explicitly and discusses it in detail, whereas al-Zamakhsharī tends to focus on grammatical and semantic analysis without always explicitly labeling the device as iltifāt. The study also observes that certain verses containing manifestations of iltifāt were not examined in sufficient depth in both exegetical works. The findings indicate the need for further specialized rhetorical studies that shed light on these relatively overlooked aspects of the Qur’an’s linguistic inimitability.