Critical Examination of Qur’anic Sciences in al-Zarkashi’s al-Burhān: Types, Methods, and Domains

Abstract

This study explores the critical dimension of Qur’anic sciences as articulated by Imam Badr al-Din al-Zarkashi in Al-Burhān fī ʿUlūm al-Qurʾān, tracing how he defined, practiced, and applied criticism across the disciplines. It identifies the types of critique he employed, the methodological tools he relied upon, and the epistemological domains he engaged, situating these within the broader question of what “criticism” means in the context of Qur’anic studies. Through an inductive survey of dispersed critical models and an analytical evaluation of their implications, the research shows that al-Zarkashi was not merely cataloging topics but actively critiquing scholars, schools, texts, and exegetical trends. His practice combined counter-examples, appeals to authoritative voices, and arguments grounded in linguistic and rhetorical principles, all balanced by a methodological awareness that highlighted strengths as well as weaknesses. Ultimately, the study demonstrates that al-Zarkashi’s critical engagement significantly shaped the development of Qur’anic sciences, making Al-Burhān a pioneering work in embedding systematic critique within the discipline.