Do you recommend al-Zamakhshari's tafsir, al-Kashshaf?
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The questioner : ... al-Zamakhshari's tafsir, al-Kashshaf. Should beginning students be prohibited from reading it, as long as he interprets this...
The Shaykh : Yes, indeed. The reality is that al-Zamakhshari's tafsir is good regarding the linguistic meaning, in terms of grammar, eloquence, and ... and so on. It is very good. Everyone who came after him and followed his path depends on him, such as Abu al-Su'ud and others; they all take from him. But regarding the attributes, beware of it. It is good in crafting speech; it leads you like a shepherd leads a blind beast. And what does a blind beast do?
The student: It walks...
The Shaykh : It walks behind it, whether what is behind it is stones, rivers, fire, or anything else. Because it is good, very good; it appeals to the mind. Al-Balqini said: "In al-Zamakhshari's book, there are Mu'tazilite views that I could not extract except with tongs." You know the tongs.
The student: Well known...
The Shaykh : You do not know the tongs? To Allah we belong and to Him we return. How long... a thorn?
The student: Yes.
The Shaykh : You know it now. Well, this tongs means it does not extract except the hidden thing. So beware of it, beware of it in the chapter of attributes. As for other than the chapter of attributes, it is good. And it also appears to me that his speech on rulings is that his school is Hanafi, and Allah knows best. Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes, indeed. The reality is that al-Zamakhshari's tafsir is good regarding the linguistic meaning, in terms of grammar, eloquence, and ... and so on. It is very good. Everyone who came after him and followed his path depends on him, such as Abu al-Su'ud and others; they all take from him. But regarding the attributes, beware of it. It is good in crafting speech; it leads you like a shepherd leads a blind beast. And what does a blind beast do?
The student: It walks...
The Shaykh : It walks behind it, whether what is behind it is stones, rivers, fire, or anything else. Because it is good, very good; it appeals to the mind. Al-Balqini said: "In al-Zamakhshari's book, there are Mu'tazilite views that I could not extract except with tongs." You know the tongs.
The student: Well known...
The Shaykh : You do not know the tongs? To Allah we belong and to Him we return. How long... a thorn?
The student: Yes.
The Shaykh : You know it now. Well, this tongs means it does not extract except the hidden thing. So beware of it, beware of it in the chapter of attributes. As for other than the chapter of attributes, it is good. And it also appears to me that his speech on rulings is that his school is Hanafi, and Allah knows best. Yes.