Maalim al-Tawhid fi Fatihat al-Kitab
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- Dār al-Maʾthūr - Dār al-Amal
Maalim al-Tawhid fi Fatihat al-Kitab: Dirasah Tahliliyyah Mawdu'iyyah (Landmarks of Tawhid in Surat al-Fatihah: An Analytical and Thematic Study) is a contemporary academic work on Quranic exegesis by Arafa bin Tantawi, focusing on the theological doctrines of monotheism (tawhid) contained within Surat al-Fatihah .
Background and Origin
The work originated as Tantawi's doctoral dissertation in Quranic exegesis and sciences (al-tafsir wa-ulum al-qur'an), which was awarded distinction with highest honors . It was published jointly by Dar al-Mathur and Dar al-Amal as the twelfth entry in their Academic Theses Series (Silsilat al-Rasa'il al-Ilmiyyah) and as part of the foundational research encyclopedia in Quranic studies (al-Mawsu'ah al-Bahthiyyah al-Ta'siliyyah fi al-Dirasat al-Qur'aniyyah) .
Subject and Objectives
The study investigates how Surat al-Fatihah systematically establishes the core tenets of Islamic monotheism through both thematic (tafsir mawdu'i) and analytical (tafsir tahlili) methods . The author defines the overarching axis of the surah as establishing humanity's servitude to God (taqrir al-ubudiyyah li-llah) . The stated objectives of the book include:
- Demonstrating that servitude to the Creator is the central axis of Surat al-Fatihah .
- Highlighting the relationship between the surah and the three classical divisions of monotheism: divine Lordship (tawhid al-rububiyyah), divine worship (tawhid al-uluhiyyah), and divine names and attributes (tawhid al-asma wa-l-sifat) .
- Highlighting the continuing scope for thematic research on the meanings and virtues of Surat al-Fatihah .
Structure and Contents
The work is organized into an introduction, four main chapters, a conclusion, and reference indices :
- Introduction: Presents the research outline and an abstract of the study .
- Chapter One: Serves as a theological prelude examining the concept, reality, and conditions of the declaration of tawhid, textual evidence demonstrating that the Quran as a whole centers on monotheism, and the concepts that negate tawhid .
- Chapter Two: Covers introductory Quranic sciences related to the surah, such as the rulings of the seeking of refuge (isti'adhah), the basmalah, and the ta'min; the names of the surah; its counts of verses, words, and letters; its principal themes and overall meaning; and its timing, occasions of revelation, and virtues .
- Chapter Three: Explores textual correlations (munasabat), including the significance of opening the Quran with Surat al-Fatihah, its relationship to the subsequent chapter (Surat al-Baqarah), internal coherence between its own verses, and its correlation with other surahs that open with praise (al-hamd) .
- Chapter Four: Represents the core analytical section, detailing the landmarks of monotheism in the surah. It addresses servitude to God as the main axis, the three categories of tawhid as derived from its verses, and specific thematic elements including praise (al-hamd), divine attributes (al-Rahman, al-Rahim, Rabb al-Alamin, Malik Yawm al-Din), faith in the Day of Recompense, and the twin concepts of worship and seeking divine assistance (al-ibadah wa-l-isti'anah) .
The book closes with a summary of key findings and comprehensive indices for cited Quranic verses, hadiths, biographical entries, and subjects .
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