Masaid al-Nazar lil-Ishraf ala Maqasid al-Suwar

Masaid al-Nazar lil-Ishraf ala Maqasid al-Suwar (Ascents of Contemplation to Oversee the Objectives of the Suras) is a work on Quranic sciences and the thematic coherence of the Quran by the Shafi'i scholar and historian Burhan al-Din al-Biqai (809–885 AH / 1406–1480 CE) Masaid al-Nazar lil-Ishra…+1.

Composition and Title

Al-Biqa'i began composing the work in Cairo in mid-Shawwal 870 AH while working on his extensive commentary Nazm al-Durar fi Tanasub al-Ayat wa-al-Suwar al-Imam al-Biqai wa Minha…. He finished the initial draft on Friday night, 14 Jumada al-Ula 871 AH, and completed his fair copy on Tuesday night, 14 Sha'ban 871 AH, at his residence and mosque in Rahbat Bab al-'Id in Cairo al-Imam al-Biqai wa Minha…. Al-Biqa'i stated in the opening of the work that it could also be titled al-Maqsad al-Asma fi Mutaabaqat Ism Kull Sura lil-Musamma ("The Highest Objective in the Conformity of Each Sura's Name to Its Named Subject") al-Imam al-Biqai wa Minha….

Purpose and Scope

The book functions as an auxiliary work of Quranic sciences designed to facilitate the understanding of tafsir, offering a holistic overview (ma'rifa ijmaliyya) of each sura's purpose as an introduction and prelude to the detailed textual correlations (ma'rifa tafsiliyya) in Nazm al-Durar al-Imam al-Biqai wa Minha…+1. Al-Biqa'i defined the subject matter of this science as the verses of the suras, its aim as knowing the truth regarding the interpretation of each verse, and its position as an introductory preliminary to tafsir Majallat al-Bayan.

Structure and Method

Al-Biqa'i structured the work with an extensive introduction followed by an analysis of the suras of the Quran:

• Introduction: Al-Biqa'i explains the title of the book, his motivation for writing it, and the scholarly reactions to his tafsir Nazm al-Durar, citing both objections and endorsements (taqariẓ) from contemporary scholars al-Imam al-Biqai wa Minha…. He provides a theoretical exposition of the science of textual correlation (ilm al-munasaba), its definitions, its standing in relation to Arabic rhetoric (balagha), its purpose, and its utility al-Imam al-Biqai wa Minha…+1.
• Sura Analyses: For each sura, he addresses whether it is Meccan or Medinan, noting differences among scholars and establishing his criterion in the discussion of Surat al-Fatiha that any revelation prior to the Hijra is Meccan and any revelation after it is Medinan, regardless of where the Prophet ﷺ was when it descended al-Imam al-Biqai wa Minha…. He then determines the single central objective (maqsad wahid) governing the sura and demonstrates how the name of the sura encapsulates that purpose al-Imam al-Biqai wa Minha…+1.

Al-Biqa'i conceptualizes each sura as a unified, seamless circle or a lush tree in which the premises lead to proofs and the conclusion curves back to its beginning, interlocking with the preceding and following parts of the text al-Imam al-Biqai wa Minha…+1. In formulating his method, he drew substantially on the holistic tafsir works of Abu al-Hasan al-Harralli (d. 638 AH), including Miftah al-Bab al-Muflaq li-Fahm al-Kitab al-Munzal, al-Urwa, and al-Tawshiya wa-al-Tawfiya Turath Abi al-Hasan al-Ha….

Manuscripts and Publication

Manuscript copies of the work are preserved in several libraries, including the author's autograph copy dated 871 AH (146 folios) held at the Institute of Arabic Manuscripts in Cairo, multiple manuscripts at Dar al-Kutub al-Misriyya (including MS 19691/B and MS 20323/B), as well as copies in Rabat, Morocco, and the 'Ashir Efendi library in Turkey al-Imam al-Biqai wa Minha….

The work remained in manuscript form until it was edited by Abd al-Sami' Muhammad Ahmad Hasanayn and published in three volumes by Maktabat al-Ma'arif in Riyadh in 1408 AH / 1987 CE Masaid al-Nazar lil-Ishra…+1.