The Concept and Application of Qur'anic "Fāsilah" in the Commentary Anwār al-Tanzīl wa Asrār al-Ta'wīl

Qur'anic fāselah (interval) is one of the literary devices discussed in the rhetorical sciences related to Qur'anic studies, which deals with the endings of verses. This concept, sometimes also referred to as ru'ūs al-āyāt (verse endings), shares similarities and differences with the concepts of rhyme (qāfiyah) and saj' (rhymed prose) in poetry and prose, and is one of the topics debated among literary commentators of the Holy Qur'an. Among these commentators, al-Baydawi, in his commentary "Anwār al-Tanzīl wa Asrār al-Ta'wīl," which addresses the rhetorical aspects of the Holy Qur'an, frequently refers to this concept. As a result, subsequent commentators have engaged in discussions and opinions regarding the acceptance or rejection of this concept in various verses. Therefore, a precise and accurate understanding of al-Baydawi's perspective on the concept and application of "fāselah" is essential for a correct comprehension of this concept. This research attempts, after surveying all instances where al-Baydawi refers to this concept, to explain the details of his view through an analytical method. Additionally, by presenting the viewpoints of subsequent commentators and using a deductive approach, a more precise picture of al-Baydawi's considerations regarding this expressive technique is provided. For this purpose, the research is organized into two parts: the first part explains the meaning of "fāselah" and the history of this term before al-Baydawi to clarify the extent of his influence by his predecessors, and the second part explains the instances in which al-Baydawi mentions this term. The results of the research indicate that al-Baydawi considered "fāselah" and "ru'ūs al-āyāt" to be synonymous and referred to this concept alongside other possibilities. Furthermore, subsequent commentators have generally been influenced by his views on this matter.