Grammatical Direction of Particles in Tafsir Mafaateeh al-Ghaib: Surat Yusuf as a Model

Abstract

This study aims to examine the grammatical particles that carry a specific grammatical direction in Tafsir Mafaateeh al-Ghaib by Al-Razi (d. 606 AH) in Surat Yusuf, given the multiple meanings and connotations that such directions convey within a single verse. Each grammatical orientation of these particles is associated with a particular interpretation by exegetes or grammarians. Through this grammatical orientation, it facilitates the interpretation of Qur’anic verses and the understanding of their legal and theological objectives. For example, the author presents more than one grammatical direction for the particle “ما” in the verse “ما جزاء من أراد بأهلك سوءًا”, showing that it can be negating, meaning “his recompense is none but imprisonment”, and it may also be interrogative, meaning “what then is his recompense other than to be imprisoned?”. The study further discusses other verses in this Surah in which grammatical particles are oriented in various ways.