Gharaib al-Tafsir wa Ajaib al-Tawil
- Author died
- 531 AH
- Editions
- Dar Al-Qiblah Lil-Thaqafah Al-Islamiyyah
Gharaib al-Tafsir wa Ajaib al-Tawil (The Rarities of Exegesis and the Wonders of Interpretation) is a specialized Quranic commentary by the grammarian and exegete Abu al-Qasim al-Kirmani (d. after 505 AH / c. 1111 CE, also reported d. 531 AH), also known by the title al-Ajaib wa-l-Gharaib . The work is devoted to elucidating obscure, complex, and unusual interpretations of Quranic verses rather than standard exegetical narrations .
Purpose and Scope
Al-Kirmani explains in his introduction that he composed the book in response to scholars and students of his time who sought the rare aspects of Quranic exegesis (gharaib al-tafsir), its wondrous interpretations (ajaib al-tawil), and its perplexing difficulties (al-mushkilat al-mu'dilat) . To justify exploring these obscure facets, he cited the reported hadith, أعربوا القرآن والتمسوا غرائبه ("Vocalize the Quran and seek out its rare aspects"), as well as the statement attributed to Ibn Abbas that the Quran contains manifold branches, outer layers, and inner depths whose wonders never cease .
Method and Structure
The commentary is organized sequentially according to the standard order of the chapters (surahs) and verses of the Quran . Al-Kirmani explicitly adopted an abridged style without prolonged elaboration . In setting his methodology, he deliberately omitted:
- Verses whose meanings are clear and apparent (al-ayat al-zahirah) .
- Widely known, mainstream interpretations (al-wujuh al-ma'rufah al-mutazahirah) .
- Occasions of revelation (asbab al-nuzul) .
- Historical narratives and stories (al-qisas wa-l-fusul) .
Instead, the text restricts itself to linguistic intricacies, grammatical possibilities, and uncommon interpretations . Al-Kirmani included a critical note on his own method during his commentary on Surat al-Falaq, stating: "Everything I have described as wondrous (ajib) contains a slight defect and warrants scrutiny" .
Al-Kirmani composed this work prior to his well-known treatise on similar verses, al-Burhan fi Mutashabah al-Quran, in which he noted that he had already set out the conditions and detailed explanations of such verses in his larger works, Lubab al-Tafasir and Gharaib al-Tafsir wa Ajaib al-Tawil .
Reception and Critique
Later scholars evaluated the work with caution due to the eccentric and far-fetched interpretations it documented . In al-Itqan fi Ulum al-Quran, Jalal al-Din al-Suyuti remarked that certain views recorded in the commentary are invalid and should not be relied upon or mentioned except by way of warning against them . Both al-Suyuti and Tashkubrizadah criticized al-Kirmani for quoting bizarre explanations, such as a statement attributed to Abu Muslim interpreting the disjointed letters in حم عسق as references to historical wars and dynastic reigns—though al-Kirmani himself noted after citing it that he included it only to demonstrate that there are fools among those who claim knowledge .
Manuscripts and Publication
The work was edited by Shamran Sarkal Yunus al-Ijlī and published in two volumes in 1408 AH / 1988 CE jointly by Dar al-Qiblah li-l-Thaqafah al-Islamiyyah in Jeddah and Mu'assasat Ulum al-Quran in Beirut . The printed edition was established based on six manuscript copies preserved in libraries across Turkey, Egypt, Iran, and Medina .
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