Madkhal ila Tafsir al-Quran wa Ulumihi
- Author died
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- Editions
- Dār al-Qalam / Dār al-Shāmiyyah
Madkhal ila Tafsir al-Quran wa Ulumihi (Introduction to the Exegesis of the Quran and its Sciences) is a modern scholarly manual on Quranic studies and hermeneutics by the Syrian scholar Adnan Zarzur (b. 1939). First published in 1416 AH / 1995 CE, the book serves as an introductory textbook for university students entering advanced studies in exegesis (tafsir) and Quranic sciences (ulum al-Quran), as well as a reference on the history, textual preservation, literary qualities, and inimitability (i'jaz) of the Quran.
Composition and Purpose
The author completed the preface to the work on Friday, 25 Muharram 1416 AH (23 June 1995 CE), while serving as a professor and head of the Department of Tafsir and Hadith at Qatar University. Zarzur noted that the work was designed to meet the academic needs of undergraduate students across Islamic studies, humanities, and the social sciences who require a foundational grasp of the Quran's history and sciences. While most chapters were adapted from his earlier published university lectures and studies, they were revised, augmented, and reorganized into a unified curriculum, with the author expressing his intention to supplement it with an expanded volume covering further Quranic sciences.
Structure and Contents
The book is organized into four main parts (abwab), divided into thematic chapters and sections:
- Part One: The Noble Quran and the Arabic Language (al-Quran al-Karim wa-al-Lughah al-Arabiyyah): Examines the linguistic medium of revelation, the Arabic language's expressive capacity, the historical and objective impact of the Quran on unifying Arabic dialects and shaping its vocabulary, and its broader cultural impact on Islamic civilization.
- Part Two: The Textual Definitiveness of the Quran and the History of its Documentation (Qat'iyyat al-Nass al-Qur'ani wa Tarikh Tawthiqihi): Compares the Quran with previous revealed scriptures; examines the phenomenon of revelation (wahy) and addresses skeptical objections against it; details the gradual descent (tanjim) of revelation and its underlying wisdom; traces the compilation of the text during the prophetic era, the caliphate of Abu Bakr, and the official codification under Uthman ibn Affan, alongside the preservation of the Uthmanic orthography (al-rasm al-uthmani); and discusses the arrangement of verses and chapters (surahs).
- Part Three: The Inimitability of the Quran (I'jaz al-Quran): Investigates the concept and historical reality of Quranic inimitability, surveying classical and modern theories including the rejection of sarfah (divine turning away), Abd al-Qahir al-Jurjani's theory of grammatical and rhetorical composition (nazm), artistic illustration (al-taswir al-fanni), and phonological harmony, concluding with an analysis of Quranic verse-end cadences (al-fasilah).
- Part Four: An Overview of the Emergence and Evolution of Exegesis (Lamhah an Nash'at al-Tafsir wa Tatawwurihi): Outlines the distinction between tafsir (exegesis) and ta'wil (interpretation), the early stages and historical sources of exegesis, rhetorical exegesis (al-tafsir al-bayani), and scientific exegesis (al-tafsir al-ilmi) of natural phenomena and cosmic verses. It features a dedicated study of Sayyid Qutb's commentary Fi Zilal al-Quran, analyzing its thematic unity and methodology, and concludes with practical exegetical applications on Surah al-Fajr and Surah al-Adiyat.
Publication History
The first edition was published in 1416 AH / 1995 CE as a joint publication by Dar al-Qalam in Damascus and al-Dar al-Shamiyyah in Beirut.
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