Continuity, Context, and Coherence in the Qur'ān: A Brief Review of the Idea of Nażm in Tafsīr Literature

Abstract

This paper looks at several works of tafsīr that identify nażm, or coherence, as a significant feature of the Qur'ān. The authors whose works are examined are Tabarī, Rāzī, Biqā'ī, and Farāhī and Islāhī-the last two, teacher and student, discussed together. It is concluded that modern tafsīr, compared with traditional tafsīr, is more accepting of the idea of nażm in the Qur'ān, and that the Farāhī-Islāhī view of Qur'anic nażm is more plausible than the views of the other exegetes studied.