Construction of the Scientific Exegesis of QS Az-Zumar: 6 in Tafsir al-Ayat al-Kawniyyah fi al-Qur'an al-Karim by Zaghlul al-Najjar

Abstract

This study aims to critically examine Zaghlul al-Najjar's construction of the scientific exegesis of Q.S. Az-Zumar [39]:6 in his work, Tafsir al-Ayat al-Kawniyyah fi al-Qur'an al-Karim. Previous studies on al-Najjar have tended to focus on the correspondence between his interpretations and scientific findings, while his methodological construction of verses on human creation has received limited attention. This study maps al-Najjar's patterns of argumentation, scholarly approaches, and methodological strategies in explaining human creation and identifies their distinctive features by comparing them with those of Fakhr al-Din al-Razi and Tantawi Jawhari. This qualitative study employs library research. The primary data include al-Najjar's interpretation of Q.S. Az-Zumar [39]: 6, whereas the secondary data include the literature on scientific exegesis, the history of science, and embryology. The data were analyzed descriptively and analytically by identifying argumentation patterns and categorizing linguistic, intertextual, scientific, and historical approaches. The findings show that al-Najjar integrates embryological terminology and data, the history of scientific development, related Qur'anic verses, and visual illustrations to construct a correspondence between the Qur'anic text and modern scientific knowledge. Comparatively, al-Najjar's distinctive feature lies in the systematic integration of these elements and the emphasis on i'jaz 'ilmi. These findings indicate a shift from interpretations emphasizing theological argumentation and scientific reflection toward a more specific, systematic, and embryologically data-driven construction of scientific exegesis.