Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
BILIMNAME, cilt.55, ss.79-97, 2026 (ESCI, TRDizin)
This paper examines Abu Hayyan al-Andalusi's method of arrangement of entries in Tuhfat al-`arib a concise lexicon of the Qur'an. Previous studies evaluating the method have noted that, unlike the established traditions of arranging entries either by the initial letter or by the rhyme system that organises words by their final letter (qafiya system), Tuhfat al-`arib employs both the first and final letters in its ordering. This method avails Tuhfat al-`arib a unique position in the literature of gharib al-Qur'an. Meanwhile, some have observed some perceived irregularities in the arrangement of entries by final letters, often attributing them to authorial oversight or scribal error. This study challenges that view, arguing that Abu Hayyan intentionally adopted two alphabetical systems, namely, the Mashriqi order for the first letters and the Maghribi order (popular among Andalusian and North African scholars) for the final letters. Reviewing existing scholarship on this topic in Arabic, English and Turkish while conducting a content analysis of Tuhfat al-`arib, supported by graphical representations of its lexical patterns, the article demonstrates that this dual system is, far from an error, a deliberate methodological choice. In conclusion, the findings suggest that Abu Hayyan's synthesis of Maghribi and Mashriqi traditions may represent his own transregional scholarly identity, bridging Andalusia and Cairo. Thus, the Qur'anic lexicon, Tuhfat al-`arib, may be regarded as a subtle intellectual unification of the Islamic East and West.