what is tafsir?? what is difference between tafsir and taweel ??? important tafsir literature of contemporary period..

1. They said, "Exalted are You; we have no
knowledge except what You have taught us.
Indeed, it is You who is the Knowing, the
Wise."

2. CONTEMPORARY TAFSIR LITERATURE
 Engr. SUMERA KHALID

3. PRESENTATION OVERVIEW
 INTRODUCTION
 Definition of TAFSEER
 Conditions for Mufasireen
 Kinds of Tafaseer
 EARLY DEVELOPMENT
 In the time of Prophet
 In the time of Sahaba
 In the time of Tabi’un & Taba
Tabi’un
 IN MODERN TIMES
 DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
CLASSICAL AND
CONTEMPORARY TAFSIR
 TAFSIR AL-MANAR
 FI ZILAL UL QURAN

4. Introduction

5. Fasara
Tafseer
=
knowledge which
aims to make clear
the true meaning of
the Qur'an, its
injunctions and the
occasions of its
revelation.
illumination of the
external meaning of
the Qur'an
=
to lift the
curtain, to make
clear, to show the
objective
ta'wil
=
the interpretation or
reclamation of
meanings of the
Qur'an text
meaning
the extraction of the
hidden meanings

6. NEED OF TAFSEER
This is a Book full of Blessings that we have
revealed unto you
so people ponder upon its verses
and men of intellect may reflect.
[Sad 38:29]

7. Ibn Jarir has reported through Muhammad
ibn Bashshar Muammal, Sufyan and Abul
Zanad that Ibn Abbas said,
"tafsir is of four kinds:
• One which Arabs can know from the
language;
• second which no one can be excused for
not knowing;
• third which only the scholars know; and
• fourth, which God alone knows."

8. The commentator or exegete is called a mufassir.
Shah Abdul Aziz Dehlawi’s three
conditions for Mufassir
explained within its
reference and context
to the main theme.
1
2
command in linguistic
knowledge and
grammar
3
should not be
contrary to that
of the Sahaba
(Muhammad's
companion)

9. KINDS OF TAFSIR
TAFSIR BIL-RIWAYA
(ALSO KNOWN AS
TAFSIR BIL-MATHUR)
 interpretation of
the Qur'an by
Quranic verses
 and use of the
explanations of
the Prophet and
his Companions.
 not based directly on
transmission of knowledge
from the past, but on reason.
 derived through opinion based
on reason and Ijtihad or Qiyas.
Tafsir bil-ray
(or Tafsir
bil-dirayah)
Tafsir bilishara
It goes into the detail
of the concepts and
ideas associated with
the words and verses
of the Qur'an

10. DEVELOPMENT OF TAFSEER LITERATURE
COMPANION’S QUESTIONS
&
PROPHET‘S ANSWERS
tafsir by Mujahid (d. 935)
Al-Tabari (d. 922 AD)
al-Baghawi;
al- Zamakhshari,
al-Baidawi, MANY MORE..

11. DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CLASSICAL AND CONTEMPORARY
TAFSIR: Classical tafaseer are mostly
written in the form of called
tafsir tahlili, that is,
commentaries given to
verses in their order in
Quran.
 They neither give summaries
of the chapter, nor summary
of what the mufasir write on
the chapter.
 The earlier methodology had
theoretical basis, which is the
thematically integrity of each
chapter.
 In earlier centuries, the
concept that each chapter
constitutes an integrated unit
with the central themes was
not found.

12.  Before the twentieth century,
 Ruh al-Ma’ani by Al-Alusi (1802-1854)
 has been the last encyclopedic tafsir of the classical
brand.
 After this complicated and voluminous work in the
middle of the 19th century, there was a gap in writing
tafsir until Tafsir al Manar appeared.
 Once Tafsir-al-Manar reestablished the art of exegesis
to address the contemporary reader, modern
Tafsir began to flourish.

13. By: Rida, Muhamma
d Rashid
Language: Arabic
Format: Hardcover |
5168 pp in a 12
volume set, with
indices
Publisher: DKI, Beir
ut
Size: 17 x 24 cm
ISBN: 2745122231
Topic: Islam - Tafsir
TAFSIR AL-MANAR
Tafsir al-Qur'an al-Hakim al-Mushhur bi Tafsir
al-Manar'', with indices.
Rashid Rida's tafsir, based on lectures of
Egyptian religious scholar Muhammad
Abduh (1849-1905 C) and Rida's
additions.

14.  Muhammad Abduh was Born in 1849 in Nile Delta, Egypt
and he Died in July 11, 1905 (aged 56) in Alexandria, Egypt.
 lasting impact in South East Asia.
 His works and ideas were highly influential in the region
 He had strongly impacted the movements of
Muhammadiyah, al-Irshad and Persatuan Islam (Persis).
Tafsir- al-Manar (modern Tafsir) pioneers to give
description of the chapter in order to facilitate in
understanding by the ordinary Muslims.

15. Tafsir al-Manar had powerfully influenced
• Tafsir al-Azhar,
• Tafsir al-Qur’an al-Karim,
• Tafsir al-Qur’an al-Madjid (Tafsir al-Nur),
• Tafsir al-Quran al-Hakim,
• Tafsir al-Misbah,
• and Tafsir al-Furqan.
METHODOLOGY OF TAFSIR: celebrated the power of reason,
 unleashed its rational and critical understanding
 definitive ijtihad (independent reasoning).
 significance method of commentary based on systematic
clarification of rational principle and scientific
framework,

16. Muhammad Asad in his work that reverberated the principle
of Abduh, stated:
“The spirit of the Qur’an could not be correctly understood
if we read it merely in the light of later ideological
developments, losing sight of its original
purport(implication) and meaning. In actual fact we are bent
to become intellectual prisoners of others who were
themselves prisoners of the past and had little to contribute
to the resurgence(revival) of Islam in the modern world”
Muhammad Asad, 1980. The Message of the Qur’an. Gibraltar: Dar al-Andalus.

17. SOURCES OF INTERPRETATION:REVIEW:-
al-Tabari and al-Alusi as primary sources while
employing high level of ijtihad and sound reason
to understand the text.
 Tafsir Al Manar addressed the need of Muslims at the
beginning of twentieth century.
 Through its tafsir, ‘Abdu and Rida were able to justify
the reformist(refined) idea with Quranic Verses and
ground(powered) these ideas in scared scripture.
 As the Quran has been a living guide for the Muslims
throughout these centuries due to this dynamism of
updating the understanding of the scripture according
to social and spiritual need of each era, opening this
function for the modern need was an extremely
important role played by Tafsir-al-Manar.

18. FI-ZILAL-UL-QURAN
ISBN: none
Author: Sayyid Qutub (Qutb)
Publisher: Dar al Shurooq
Pages: 4018 Binding:
Hardcover
Description from the
publisher:
Sayyid Qutb's monumental
tafseer (explanation and
commentary) of the Qur'an, in
Arabic only.

19. Qutb, Being member of the Muslim
Brotherhood, was a prominent Islamist (revivalist)
figure whose career spanned the middle decades of
this century.
His thoughts, deeply influenced
by Mawdudi's revolutionary work.
Qutb’s main objective in writing the Zilal was to
bring people back to the Qur’an by
establishing their interest in the text.
 He therefore encouraged people to read the Qur’an
not only to gain God’s blessing but also to use its
message as the source of guidance in facing the

20. METHODOLOGY OF TAFSIR: while interpreting the meaning of the Qu’an, he
transported himself and his readers into an imaginary
world similar to that of the early Muslims, who strove to
follow the Revelation and apply its principles to their
daily lives.
Qutb said:
There is only one model and method of returning to
God, which is to replace one’s entire lifestyle with that
system as is found in the Qu’an....and it was the Qur’an
that established a new concept of existence, life, values
and institutions.

21. REVIEW:Qutb’s approach to Zilal shifted from artistic and
ideological approaches (al-manhaj al-jamali wa’lfikri) to a dynamic approach (al-manhaj al-haraki).
One often finds words
like iha’at (inspiration) and zilal (shade),
which indicate the author’s attempt to go beyond
addressing the literal and general meaning and
convey to his readers the reality of the occasion with
all its excitement and appeal

22.  significance of Qutb’s choice of title, Fi Zilal al-Qur’an:
that is, to convey feeling as well as meaning.
 These characteristics made Qutb’s commentary
thoroughly modern in its approach, in the sense that
he attempted to show the Qur’an’s relevance for all
times and circumstances of human life.

23.  Although it lacks discussions of
jurisprudence, compared with other
traditional tafsir,
 Zilal, with its author’s distinctive approach to
Qur’anic commentary, has the ability to
awaken human consciousness and thus
enjoys wide acceptance among various
intellectual groups

24. TADABBUR-I-QURAN
&
TAFHEEM-UL-QURAN

25. ISBN: 9789839154887
Author: Amin Ahsan
Islahi; Mohammad
Saleem Kayani
(translator)
Publisher: Islamic Book
Trust (2007)
Pages: 693
Binding: Hardcover w/
Dust Jacket
Volums:9
TADABBUR-I-QURAN
BY AMIN AHSAN ISLAHI

26. BIOGRAPHY OF AMIN AHSAN ISLAHI:
– A prominent scholar, born in 1904 in India.
– Student of Allama Hamiduddin Farahi.
– Influenced by the Indian freedom.
– Died on 15 December 1997.

27. METHODOLOGY
• Based on the concept of thematic and
structural coherence.
• Inspired by Allama Hamiduddin Farahi.
• Arranging surahs in to pair.

28. SALIENT FEATURES
•
•
•
•
•
Divided surahs in to seven groups.
Each surah has distinct theme.
Each group begin with Makkan surah.
End with Madinan surah.
The various phases of Prophet(saw)’s
mission are depicted.

29. Translator: Syed Abul
A'la Maududi
Binding:
2
Hardback
Size:
7x10x9" (17x24 cm)
Edition: 35th (2003)
Publisher: Tarjamanul
-Quran
TAFHEEM-UL-QURAN
BY MAULANA ABUL ALA MAUDUDI

30. BIOGRAPHY OF Maulana Maududi
– Born in Aurangabad in India.
– Founder of Jamaat-e-Islami.
– Influenced by Egyptian Islamist Hassan alBanna, founder of Egytion Muslim Brotherhood.
– Died in 1979

31. METHODOLOGY
– Maududi's methodology was
quintessentially Salafist.
– Maududi critically reviewed the
Quran, hadith and writings of ancient and
medieval scholars.
– Building his own reconstruction or
reinterpretation of their original meaning.

32. ISBN: none
Author: MUFTI
MUHAMMAD
SHAFI
Publisher: Dar al
ULOOM
Pages: 7288
2
Binding:Hardcover
VOLUMES: 8
MA’ARIF-UL-QURAN
BY MUFTI MUHAMMAD SHAFI

33. BIOGRAPHY OF MUFTI MUHAMMAD SHAFI
• The Shaykh (Allah Almighty have mercy on him) was
born on the 21st of Sha‘ban in the year 1314 H (January
1897 CE).
• He grew up in the embrace of knowledge and gnosis, for
he was devoted to acquiring knowledge from the great
‘ulama from a young age, and he maintained the
companionship of the gnostics early on in his life.

34. METHODOLOGY
• To adopt any one of the already available
English translations of the Holy Quran, like
those of Arberry, Pickthall or Abdullah
yousuf ali.
• To translate the Urdu translations used in
the Ma'ariful-Qur'an into English.
• To provide a new translation of our own

35. TAFSIR ZIA UL QURAN
&
TAFSIR E HAQANI

36. TAFSIR ZIA UL QURAN

37. ABOUT BOOK
• Tafsir Zia-ul-Quran (Urdu)
• Author: Pir Muhammad Karam Shah alAzhari (
)
• Language: Urdu ( )
• Publisher: Zia-ul-Quran Publications, Lahore
• Published: 1995

38. VOLUMES
• Tafsir Zia-ul-Quran is a very popular, modern Sunni tafsir
of the Holy Quran
It has been published in 5 volumes
Volume 1: Surah Fatiha (01) to Surah Inam (06) •
• Volume 2: Surah Araf (07) to Surah Asra (17) • Volume 3: Surah Kahf (18) to Surah Sajda (32) •
• Volume 4: Surah Ahzab (33) to Surah Toor (52) •
• Volume 5: Surah Najm (53) to Surah Naas (104)

39. MUFASIR BIOGRAPHY:
• Born
• Muhammad Karam Shah
1 July 1918
RELIGION
SUNNI ISLAM HANFI MADHAB
CHILDREN
SHEIKH MUHAMMAD AMIN AL HASANAT SHAH

40. • SITARA IMTIAZ
SERVE THE DUTY OF JUDGE
Federal Shariat Court of Pakistan
Supreme Court of Pakistan.

41. METHADOLOGY:
– Tafsir zia ul Quran revealed an important
methodology of Qur’anic sciences
That tells the power of reasons( depended or
independent reasons).
Indicates the basic principles of Quran

42. TAFSIR E HAQANI
ISBN: 969503249
Author: Abu Mohammad
Abdul-Haq al-Haqqani
Publisher: AlFaisal Publishers
Pages: 1251 Binding: Hard
back
Description from the
publisher:
5.5"x8.5" This is an Urdu
only title. (no English)

43. MUFASIR BIOGRAPHY:
• Born:1551 Delhi
• Died:1642 Delhi
Influenced by: Imam Abu Hanifa
Shaykh Abdul Qadir al-Jilani al-Baghdadi
• Influenced: Pir Syed Mehr Ali Shah, Imam
Ahmad Raza Khan

44. PRINCIPLE OF TAFSIR
• To understand the principles of Tafsir, it is
also very useful to study the works of Tafsir
SOME MASTERS OF FIELD WHO TAKE GREAT
CARE TO ANALYZE AND DEBATE THE
DIFFERENT OPINIONS

45. WORKS ON TAFSIR
 Tafsir al-Tabari
 Tafsir ibn ‘Atiyyah
 ‘Adwa’ al-Bayan by al-Shinqiti
 Tafsir_e_haqqani

46. 5 MAIN METHODS TO DO TAFSIR
•
•
•
•
•
TAFSIR OF QURAN BY QURAN
TAFSIR OF QURAN BY SUNNAH
TAFSEER OF QURAN BY AATHAAR
TAFSEER OF QURAN BY LANGUAGE
TAFSEER OF QURAN BY OPINION

47. CONCLUSIONS

48. • Tafsir of the Quran is the most important for Muslims .All
matters concerning the Islam is based on proper
understanding of the guidance from Allah. Without the
help of tafsir there would be no right to understanding the
different passages of the Quran.
• Qur'aan a complete source of guidance in and of itself, as it
says,
"And We have sent down the Book to you as an
explanation for everything, a guidance, a mercy and glad
tidings for Muslims" [16:89]

49. As-Suyuti said,
The science of tafseer is the most honorable of all sciences for
three reasons.
 The first reason is with respect to its topic. It deals with the
Speech of Allaah,
 The second reason is with respect to its goal. Its goal is to
lead mankind to the firm handhold of Allaah, and to the
true eternal happiness,
 The third reason is with respect to the great need for this
science., need of the sciences of the shariah and
knowledge of the religion

50. QUESTIONS?
JAZAKALLAH