PhD Degree Awarded to Researcher Ali Abdullah Saleh Al-Banna in Qur’anic Tafsir
Researcher Ali Abdullah Saleh Al-Banna was awarded a PhD degree in Qur’anic Tafsir for his dissertation titled: Principles of Preference According to Imam Al-Hakim Al-Jushami (d. 494 AH) through His Tafsir Al-Tahdhib fi Al-Tafsir: A Theoretical and Applied Study, which was submitted to the Department of Islamic Studies, Faculty of Arts and Humanities – Sana’a University. The MA defense was held on Tuesday, August 11, 2026.
The PhD Viva-Voce Committee, which was formed based on a resolution issued by the Graduate Studies and Scientific Research Council, consisted of the following:
# |
Committee Members |
Designation |
Position |
1 |
Prof. Ahmed Mohammed Qasim Madhkur |
External Examiner |
Chair |
2 |
Dr. Ali Mohammed Maqbool Al-Ahdal |
Main Supervisor |
Member |
3 |
Dr. Bushra Ali Yahya Al-Emad |
Internal Examiner |
Member |
The dissertation aimed to examine the principles of preference adopted by Imam Al-Hakim Al-Jushami in his interpretive choices and preference among differing views in his Tafsir; explore his critical methodology in discussing less-preferred opinions; examine his methods of reasoning and the extent to which his choices and preferences corresponded with those of other Qur’anic exegetes; identify the scholarly influences that shaped his principles of preference; and highlight the ways in which he was influenced by the contributions of exegetes from different schools of thought in his interpretive analyses and conclusions.
The study found that Imam Al-Hakim Al-Jushami was one of the prominent scholars and independent thinkers of the Mu‘tazilite and Zaydi traditions in the fifth century AH. His Tafsir reflected his extensive knowledge of, and engagement with, a large number of Mu‘tazilite exegetical works and writings on Islamic theology, in addition to his use of the works of Zaydi scholars in jurisprudence and theology and the intellectual heritage of the Ahl al-Bayt, including Imam Zayd ibn Ali and Imam Yahya ibn al-Husayn.
The dissertation also concluded that Al-Tahdhib fi Al-Tafsir represents a comprehensive scholarly encyclopedia, making it an important source and influential reference in the development of Qur’anic tafsir. A number of exegetes and scholars benefited from the work by abridging it and drawing upon its scholarly insights. Among the most notable scholars influenced by it was Mahmud ibn Umar Al-Zamakhshari in his Tafsir Al-Kashshaf. Its influence also extended to Zaydi scholars in Yemen, including Al-Mu’ayyad Billah Mohammed ibn Ismail ibn Al-Qasim ibn Mohammed in his Tafsir Mukhtasar Al-Tahdhib fi Al-Tafsir.
The dissertation recommended conducting further studies to explore the intellectual and jurisprudential links between Iraq and Yemen through this comprehensive exegetical work, investigating the reasons behind Imam Al-Hakim Al-Jushami’s influence by Zaydi scholars, and examining the impact of his Tafsir on the exegetical and scholarly movement among Zaydi scholars in Yemen.
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The defense session was attended by a number of academics, researchers, and postgraduate students, as well as the researcher’s colleagues and family members.
A video from the Viva-Voce
