Disguised Itizāl in al-Kashshāf: Discussions on the Createdness of the Qur’an through al- Zamakhsharī’s Introduction to His Tafsīr

One of the discussion topics that found a place in the scholarly circles in the 7th and 8th centuries of Hijra was whether or not Abū al-Qāsim Maḥmūd ibn Umar al-Zamakhsharī, a supporter of Mutazilite thought in later periods, had covertly promoted Mutazilite doctrines in his tafsīr, al-Kashshāf. This claim started new scholarly endeavors towards either uncovering the alleged subtle allusions in the tafsīr or exonerating it from such accusations. A similar debate revolved around the introduction of al-Kashshāf, where it is claimed al-Zamakhsharī tersely placed the Mutazilite doctrine of the createdness of the Qur’an. Reportedly he had first used in the initial sentence the verb khalaqa in reference to the Qur’an, but later he changed the verb. The purpose of this article is to examine those allegations about al-Zamakhsharī and his tafsīr by focusing on the views of the commentators.