al-Zarqani, Muhammad Abd al-Azim
- Died
- 1367 AH
- Born in
- -
Muhammad Abd al-Azim al-Zarqani (d. 1367 AH / 1948 CE) was an Egyptian scholar of al-Azhar who specialized in Quranic sciences and hadith, best known for his comprehensive work Manahil al-Irfan fi Ulum al-Quran (The Springs of Knowledge Concerning the Sciences of the Quran).
Life and Career
Al-Zarqani studied at al-Azhar University, graduating from its Faculty of Theology (Kulliyyat Usul al-Din). He subsequently joined the faculty as a lecturer, teaching courses on Quranic sciences and hadith. In accordance with the curriculum established by the Supreme Council of al-Azhar for specialized collegiate studies, he prepared his major textbook, Manahil al-Irfan fi Ulum al-Quran, specifically for students enrolled in the propagation and guidance (al-da'wah wa-al-irshad) track. He also authored a published research study on propagation and guidance. Al-Zarqani died in Cairo in 1367 AH (1948 CE).
Scholarly Contribution and Reception
Al-Zarqani's two-volume work on Quranic sciences achieved widespread circulation and became one of the standard modern expositions of the discipline. In it, he synthesized material from over a hundred classical sources, combined related subjects into unified chapters rather than treating them piecemeal, and wrote in an elevated literary prose style. He also devoted substantial sections to detailing and answering classical and modern polemical objections raised against the Quran. In doctrinal matters, al-Zarqani adhered to the Ash'ari school, while several later scholars noted that parts of his work contain positions and discussions requiring further critical verification.
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List of Works
Manahil al-Irfan fi Ulum al-Quran (The Springs of Knowledge Concerning the Sciences of the Quran) is a comprehensive manual on Quranic sciences. Prepared in accordance with the curriculum prescribed by the Supreme Council of al-Azhar, the book was designed to serve both as a structured textbook for students in the propagation and guidance track and as a modern exposition of Quranic disciplines.