What is a brief overview of the the book "al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir" and its author Muhammad al-Tahir Ibn Ashour, including his methodology and creed? And what is your opinion of the book?

Muhammad al-Tahir ibn Ashur, born in Tunis in 1296 AH (1879 CE), and passed away there in 1394 AH (1973 CE). He was a profound scholar in Sharia, language, and literature, and held high academic and administrative positions such as teaching, judiciary, issuing fatwas, and serving as the Sheikh of the Zaytuna Mosque. Among his most prominent works is his exegesis "Al-Tahrir wa'l-Tanwir," which took him nearly forty years to complete.

"Al-Tahrir wa'l-Tanwir" is considered a valuable exegesis that focuses on explaining the facets of miraculousness and Arabic eloquence and the coherence of verses, with special attention to clarifying the meanings of linguistic vocabulary and realizing the objectives of the surahs. Ibn Ashur stated his methodology therein, clarifying his endeavor to uncover insights, meanings, and miraculous aspects that were absent from other exegeses. He named his exegesis "The Liberation of the Sound Meaning and the Illumination of the New Mind from the Exegesis of the Glorious Book."

As for Ibn Ashur's creed, he followed the Ash'ari school of thought in matters of belief and speculative theology (kalam). This is indicated by his statements in his exegesis and his stance on the texts of divine attributes, in which he leans towards metaphorical interpretation (ta'wil) or delegation (tafwid), which contradicts the methodology of the Salaf in affirming the attributes as they appear literally, without ta'wil or anthropomorphism (tashbih). Nevertheless, this did not prevent him from disagreeing with the Ash'aris on some issues and jurisprudential interpretations, such as his critique of some of their conclusions regarding the attribute of speech, the obligation of theoretical inquiry, and the denial of wisdom and rationales for Allah's actions.