Tafseer-e-Kabeer

For other uses, see Tafsir al-Kabir.

Tafseer-e-Kabeer (Urdu: تفسير کبير, tafsīr-e-kabīr, "The Extensive Commentary") is a 10 volume exegesis of the Quran containing the lectures, writings and notes on Quranic verses by Mirza Mahmood Ahmad, the second Caliph of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, and took over 20 years to compile. It is often seen as his Magnum opus.

Background

Mirza Mahmood Ahmad was the second Head of the modern Islamic revivalist movement known as the Ahmadiyya Muslim community. The first of the 10 volumes was published in 1940 by Zia ul Islam Press, Qadian. The commentary was considered to be the next step ahead in Quranic studies.

Throughout the commentary the author suggests the vital importance of the order in which chapters were arranged in the present form. The commentary stresses the importance of a number of aspects in Quranic commentary which were thought a novel approach at the time of its publication such as the inter-relationship of the text of the entire Quran and of each Sura to the preceding, the themes of the Qur'an are connected and all chapters, verses and words are perfectly arranged according to a coherent and logical system that appeals directly to the human psyche.

Features and Themes

The commentary is written in the style of an argument for Islam. Repeated references and comments are made on the works of famous orientalists like Theodor Nöldeke, William Muir and William Montgomery Watt as well as numerous Muslim theologians and commentators. The author has frequently dismissed the views of these writers in favour of more linguistic approach towards understanding the meanings of the Quran. As compared to other classical texts, this commentary seems to rely less on "Asbab al-nuzul" or reasons of revelation of verses. This approach greatly reduces the impact and validity of negative remarks and objections made on the Quran by non-Muslim critics.

Each verse is explained separately in two sections. The first section gives different translations of the words in the verse according to major classical Arabic lexicons along with their different uses derived from classical Arabic prose and poetry. The second section contains detailed commentary.

A detailed bibliography of references and indices are provided at the end of each volume.

Contents of the Commentary

Urdu

In 10 volumes:

• Volume 1: Surah 1 and portion of Surah 2.
• Volume 2: Surah 2 (remaining portion)
• Volume 3: Surahs 10-14
• Volume 4: Surahs 15-18
• Volume 5: Surahs 19-21
• Volume 6: Surahs 22-25
• Volume 7: Surahs 26-29
• Volume 8: Surahs 78-90
• Volume 9: Surahs 91-104
• Volume 10: Surahs 92-114

See also

• The English Commentary of the Holy Quran

External links

• Tafseer-e- Kabeer (Urdu)[1]
• Tafseer-e-Kabeer Arabic