Methodology of Salah Abdul Fattah al-Khalidi in Abridgement of al-Tabari’s Corpus, Jami' al-Bayan 'An Ta'wil Ay al-Quran: Taqrib wa Tahzib (Approximation and Refinement)

Abstract

This article focuses on the methodology used by Salah Abdul Fattah al-Khalidi in his abridgement of al-Tabari’s exegesis, Jami' al-Bayan 'an Ta'wil Ay al-Quran: Taqrib Wa Tahzib. This article presents some examples of the methods he used in this discipline, in approximation, in transmission and brevity, as well as comparison to the original exegesis. This qualitative research is designed using a content analysis approach. This article shows that the methods of Salah al-Khalidi are almost completely different from others who shortened this great exegesis, as the corpus of Taqrib Wa Tazhib is considered as an approximation and refinement of al-Tabari, the Jami' al-Bayan 'an Ta'wil Ay al-Quran. It does not shorten or diminish its explicit meaning, but nonetheless is a picture of abridgment, unless the Taqrib Wa Tahzib is broader and more comprehensive. It does not require many deletions, and preserves what was stated in the original exegesis with clarification formed from understanding and simplification of al-Tabari's work. Indeed, Salah al-Khalidi affirmed this matter at the beginning of the Taqrib Wa Tahzib and not omitting is evidence of Salah Khalidi’s honesty and credibility in transmission and discipline.