Madkhal ila al-Tafsir wa Ulum al-Quran

Madkhal ila al-Tafsir wa Ulum al-Quran (Introduction to Exegesis and Quranic Sciences) is a modern academic work by Abd al-Jawad Khalaf that examines the role of divine revelation as the cornerstone of Islamic civilization and surveys core disciplines within Quranic sciences (ulum al-Quran) and Quranic exegesis (tafsir) Madkhal ila al-Tafsir wa …+1.

Purpose and Composition

The book was written by Khalaf between Karachi (1409 AH / 1989 CE) and Cairo (1410 AH / 1996 CE) Madkhal ila al-Tafsir wa …. Its intended purpose is to arrange intellectual concepts regarding the foundations of Islamic civilization around their primary origin: divine revelation, encompassing both the Quran and the Sunnah Madkhal ila al-Tafsir wa …. Khalaf posits that exegesis is the foundation of all Quranic sciences, arguing that ancillary disciplines emerged and developed primarily to serve the needs of exegesis and to elucidate the meanings of the text Madkhal ila al-Tafsir wa ….

Structure and Content

The work is organized into two primary parts, followed by a conclusion highlighting key findings and an index Madkhal ila al-Tafsir wa …+1:

Part One: The Roots of Islamic Civilization

This part contains four thematic investigations (mabahith) Madkhal ila al-Tafsir wa …:

• Preamble (Tamhid): Discusses the premise that human civilizations are inherently anchored in religion and that human nature possesses an innate drive toward religious belief (fitrah) Madkhal ila al-Tafsir wa ….
• Divine Revelation (al-Wahy al-Ilahi): Explores the concepts of God, human disposition, and prophethood; defines revelation linguistically and technically; details forms and categories of revelation; and traces the recording of revelation and prominent scribes Madkhal ila al-Tafsir wa ….
• The Prophetic Sunnah (al-Sunnah al-Nabawiyyah): Examines the Prophetic tradition as "hidden revelation" (al-wahy al-khafi), its preservation, and its compilation alongside the Quran Madkhal ila al-Tafsir wa …+1.
• The Noble Quran (al-Quran al-Karim): Examines the Quran as "manifest revelation" (al-wahy al-jali), outlining linguistic and technical definitions across eight core delimiting parameters (quyyud), and detailing its names and descriptors Madkhal ila al-Tafsir wa …+2.

Part Two: Sciences of the Noble Quran

The second part opens with an overview of the broader and narrower technical definitions of Quranic sciences and their historical evolution, followed by seven chapters (abwab) Madkhal ila al-Tafsir wa …+2:

• The Science of Exegesis (Ilm al-Tafsir): Discusses the rank of and need for exegesis, its historical genesis and developmental stages, and analyzes major interpretive approaches using case studies:
  • Praiseworthy reason-based exegesis (al-tafsir bi'l-ra'y al-mahmud), represented by Fakhr al-Din al-Razi's Mafatih al-Ghayb Madkhal ila al-Tafsir wa ….
  • Blameworthy reason-based exegesis (al-tafsir bi'l-ra'y al-madhmum), represented by al-Zamakhshari's al-Kashshaf Madkhal ila al-Tafsir wa ….
  • Juridical exegesis (al-tafsir al-fiqhi), represented by al-Qurtubi's al-Jami' li-Ahkam al-Quran Madkhal ila al-Tafsir wa ….
• The Revelation of the Quran (Ilm Nuzul al-Quran): Treats the timing, duration, mode of descent, and the wisdom behind its gradual revelation Madkhal ila al-Tafsir wa ….
• Occasions of Revelation (Ilm Asbab al-Nuzul): Details definitions, utility, methods of determination, sources, and reconciling contradictory reports Madkhal ila al-Tafsir wa ….
• Chronology of Revelation (Awwal ma Nazal wa-Akhir ma Nazal): Reviews narrations identifying the first and last revealed passages of the Quran Madkhal ila al-Tafsir wa ….
• Makkan and Medinan Surahs (Ilm al-Makki wa'l-Madani): Outlines distinguishing characteristics, criteria, utility, and an exhaustive classification of all 114 surahs Madkhal ila al-Tafsir wa ….
• Abrogation (Ilm al-Nasikh wa'l-Mansukh): Defines abrogation, its divisions, wisdom, distinct terminology, and addresses controversies regarding excessive claims of abrogation Madkhal ila al-Tafsir wa ….
• Quranic Variant Readings (Ilm al-Qira'at): Examines categories of readings, rules and conditions for authentic readings, and major classical reference works in the field Madkhal ila al-Tafsir wa ….