Tafsir al-Shaarawi
- Author died
- 1418 AH
- Editions
- Maṭābiʿ Akhbār al-Yawm
Tafsir al-Shaarawi (Arabic: تفسير الشعراوي), also known as Khawatir al-Sha'rawi (خواطر الشعراوي, "al-Sha'rawi's Thoughts"), is a contemporary oral and written exegesis of the Quran by the Egyptian Al-Azhar scholar, preacher, and former Minister of Awqaf Muhammad Mutawalli al-Sha'rawi (1329–1418 AH / 1911–1998 CE) .
Composition and Delivery
Al-Sha'rawi preferred to designate his work as Khawatir hawla al-Quran al-Karim ("Thoughts on the Noble Quran") rather than a formal exegesis (tafsir) . The material originated as spoken lectures delivered free of charge for Egyptian radio and television broadcasts, gaining widespread prominence through televised programs such as Ahmad Farraj's Nur 'ala Nur ("Light upon Light") .
In his continuous broadcast lessons, al-Sha'rawi reached Surah al-Hujurat . Recordings of his commentary on the final three parts (ajza') of the Quran, dating to 1973, were preserved in Saudi Arabia, bringing his recorded audiovisual commentary on almost the entire Quran to approximately 2,300 hours . The spoken material was subsequently transcribed, edited, and published in print .
Method and Style
Al-Sha'rawi structured his explanation of verses by first outlining their overarching meaning, followed by cross-referencing related Quranic passages, hadiths, historical accounts, and everyday analogies . His method focused on presenting the Quran as a living guide relevant to practical daily life rather than as abstract text .
The work is characterized by accessible language directed toward both general audiences and educated listeners, emphasizing the underlying wisdom and linguistic precision of Quranic expressions . Al-Sha'rawi deliberately minimized technical debates in Arabic grammar, jurisprudence, and sectarian theology, aiming primarily to evoke spiritual reflection and faith .
Reception and Critique
The exegesis attained broad popularity across the Arab world and among Muslim communities in Europe, including Albania, Kosovo, and North Macedonia . Contemporary scholars praised its pedagogical clarity, with some describing al-Sha'rawi as establishing a distinct school of modern Quranic interpretation .
During its early dissemination, the commentary encountered skepticism from certain Western-educated intellectuals who criticized its popular orientation . Critics from traditionalist and theological circles also raised objections to specific interpretations, faulting tendencies toward Sufi-influenced explanations, Ash'ari theological readings, and idiosyncratic linguistic derivations .
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