Sheikh Muhammad Bāqir al-Bālikī’s methodology of exegesis in his annotation on Tafsir al-Baidhawi (lexical, syntactical and rhetorical issues in sūrah Al-Baqarah)

Sheikh Muhammad Bāqir al-Bālikī is considered among the most prominent Islamic scholars in the fourteenth century Hijri in Kurdistan. The connoisseur has written many treatises, commentaries and annotations in diverse Islamic knowledge areas, and one of his precious works is his famous annotation on Tafsir al-Baidhawi, which truly shows the Sheikh’s high status in exegesis. He has embedded in it various subtleties and precious matters relating to the knowledge of exegesis. This study examines al-Bālikī’s methodology of exegesis of the Holy Quran through the sections on sūrah a-Baqarah in this annotation. The author discusses the sources relied upon by the Sheikh in his annotation, also his methodology of exegesis and his stance on lexicology, syntax and rhetorics. He settles disputed matters in many cases and expands upon problems needing elaboration, and clarifies alBaidhawi’s opinions. He sometimes agrees with the commentators including al-Baidhawi and the other times disagrees with them. He is independent in his opinions, while following a deductive approach until reaching the right opinion. He declares that he doesn’t mind whether his opinion consents other’s opinions or not. Strikingly, al-Bālikī is more of an exegetist than a commentator or annotator in contrast to much of commentaries and annotations of the late Islamic era. This study is conducted according to analytical-descriptive methodology and presents most important matters deduced by al-Bālikī in his interpretation of sūrah Al-Baqarahh.