al-Khulasa fi Tadabbur al-Quran al-Karim
- Author died
- -
- Editions
- Dar Al-Hadarah for Publishing and Distribution
al-Khulasa fi Tadabbur al-Quran al-Karim (The Summary in the Contemplation of the Noble Quran) is a treatise on the principles and theory of Quranic contemplation (tadabbur) by the contemporary Saudi scholar Khalid al-Sabt .
Background and Purpose
The author completed the preface to the work on 5 Ramadan 1436 AH (June 2015 CE) . Al-Sabt wrote the treatise as an exhortation to reflection and a foundational guide outlining the theoretical dimensions of Quranic contemplation . Rather than providing an exhaustive manual, he aimed to present a concise synthesis enriched with classical scholarly quotations, making it suitable for general readers, instructors, and researchers in Quranic studies .
The book serves as a theoretical foundation alongside al-Sabt's applied work, al-Qawa'id wa al-Usul wa Tatbiqat al-Tadabbur (Rules, Principles, and Applications of Contemplation), where the author refers readers back to al-Khulasa for definitions, preliminaries, and foundational concepts .
Contents and Structure
The book is organized around key theoretical aspects of Quranic contemplation:
- Definition of Tadabbur: The work traces the linguistic roots of the term from d-b-r (referring to the end or outcome of a matter), its general usage denoting intellectual reflection on consequences, and its technical religious definition in the Quranic context . It analyzes definitions given by major classical and modern authorities, including al-Zamakhshari, al-Qurtubi, al-Khazin, Abu Hayyan al-Gharnati, Ibn al-Qayyim, Abd al-Rahman al-Sa'di, Ibn Ashur, and Abd al-Rahman Habannakah .
- Exegetical Perspectives: The author surveys interpretations given by prominent Quranic commentators—such as al-Tabari, al-Baghawi, Ibn al-Jawzi, al-Biqa'i, and al-Shawkani—on the core Quranic verses enjoining reflection, including أَفَلَا يَتَدَبَّرُونَ الْقُرْآنَ and كِتَابٌ أَنْزَلْنَاهُ إِلَيْكَ مُبَارَكٌ لِيَدَّبَّرُوا آيَاتِهِ .
- Significance of Contemplation: The treatise demonstrates that pondering the meanings of the verses is among the primary purposes for which the Quran was revealed, citing statements from scholars including Muhammad al-Amin al-Shinqiti .
- Types and Objectives of Contemplation: Al-Sabt outlines the diverse objectives of those who reflect on the Quran, including verifying the truth of the message, softening the heart, seeking admonition, and understanding divine attributes and legal wisdom . He differentiates between forms of reflection accessible to general believers and specialized textual deductions that require mastery of scholarly disciplines .
- Pillars, Conditions, and Impediments: The book delineates the three pillars of tadabbur, focusing particularly on the reader (al-mutadabbir), and explores the necessary conditions, supportive etiquette, and spiritual or mental impediments that prevent deep engagement with the text .
Publication
The book was published in Arabic by Dar al-Hadara in Riyadh .
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