al-Jami fi Amthal al-Quran
- Author died
- 751 AH
- Editions
- Maktabat Ibn Taymiyyah
al-Jami fi Amthal al-Quran (The Compendium of Quranic Parables) is a compilation of the thematic Quranic commentary of the Hanbali scholar Ibn al-Qayyim (d. 751 AH / 1350 CE), gathered and edited by Abu Uways Ashraf ibn Nasr ibn Sabir al-Kurdi .
Background and Origins
Ibn al-Qayyim originally discussed a significant collection of Quranic parables (amthal) in his legal treatise I'lam al-Muwaqqi'in during an analysis of analogical reasoning by resemblance (qiyas al-shabah) . In his theological poem al-Kafiyah al-Shafiyah, he expressed an intention to author a dedicated work exploring Quranic parables and their deeper wisdoms, stating: "We shall dedicate to them, if God wills, an independent book comprising their secrets and meanings" .
While an excerpted treatise (Risalat al-Amthal) derived from I'lam al-Muwaqqi'in circulated in manuscript form and was attributed to him, Ibn al-Qayyim also expounded upon various parables in many of his other writings, often in greater detail . To unite these scattered discussions into a single resource, Abu Uways al-Kurdi compiled the work under the title al-Jami fi Amthal al-Quran . The edition was reviewed and prefaced by Mustafa al-Adawi .
Structure and Methodology
The compilation is organized according to the order of the surahs of the Quran . Its editor implemented the following editorial method:
- Collection and Arrangement: Parables discussed by Ibn al-Qayyim across his various books were assembled and placed in sequence according to their respective Quranic chapters .
- Selection of Text: For each parable, the editor selected the most exhaustive passage from Ibn al-Qayyim's works—whether it served as direct exegesis or textual citation—while providing cross-references to other places where the author addressed it .
- Inclusion of Related Verses: Certain verses that do not strictly contain explicit parables but are contextually related to the discussion were also incorporated .
- Hadith Grading and Glosses: Prophetic traditions and narrations (athar) cited within Ibn al-Qayyim's commentary were evaluated for authenticity, and obscure vocabulary (gharib al-alfaz) was explained .
- Footnote Additions: Supporting interpretive statements from classical exegetes, such as al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir, were placed in footnotes to elucidate meanings, keeping the main text restricted to Ibn al-Qayyim's own words .
The volume also includes a brief biography of Ibn al-Qayyim and was published in a single volume by Maktabat Ibn Taymiyyah in Cairo .
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