Tafsir Awwal al-Baqara (1 - 5) - ضمن "Athar al-Muallimi
- Author died
- 1386 AH
- Editions
- Dar Alam al-Fawa'id lil-Nashr wa-al-Tawzi'
Tafsir Awwal al-Baqara (1–5) (Arabic: تفسير أول البقرة (١ - ٥)) is a concise exegetical treatise by the Yemeni scholar Abd al-Rahman al-Muallimi al-Yamani (1313–1386 AH / 1895–1966 CE; also recorded as b. 1312 AH), focusing on the commentary and structural connection of the opening five verses of Surat al-Baqara. It was published as part of his collected exegetical treatises (Majmuʿ Rasaʾil al-Tafsir) within the multi-volume project Athar al-Muʿallimi.
Content and Method
The treatise offers a focused analytical commentary on verses 1–5 of Surat al-Baqara, emphasizing both semantic precision and textual cohesion:
- Connection to Surat al-Fatiha: al-Muʿallimi frames the opening verses of Surat al-Baqara as a divine response to the supplication made in Surat al-Fatiha ( اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ , "Guide us to the straight path"), outlining the nature of that straight path and defining those who receive divine favor.
- Distinction between Types of Guidance: He distinguishes between the two mentions of guidance (al-huda) in the passage: the first in verse 2 ( هُدًى لِلْمُتَّقِينَ ) signifies indication and direction (dalala), whereas the second in verse 5 ( أُولَئِكَ عَلَى هُدًى مِنْ رَبِّهِمْ ) denotes divine enablement and success (tawfiq wa-irshad). He notes that while human choice plays a role in accepting the initial direction, God grants multiplied guidance to those who act upon what is available to them.
- Significance of the Divine Attribute of Lordship: In explaining the phrase مِنْ رَبِّهِمْ ("from their Lord"), al-Muʿallimi deduces several theological and linguistic observations: that this guidance stems purely from God; that it is a manifestation of divine lordship (rububiyya) directed toward all creation, though disbelievers forfeit it due to their own deficiency; that it directly relates back to the mention of رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ in al-Fatiha; and that divine care (ʿinaya) is especially perfected for those who embody the righteous traits described in the passage.
- Rhetorical Features: He analyzes the stylistic repetition of the demonstrative pronoun in verse 5 ( وَأُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ ), explaining that it directs the listener's attention back to the aforementioned virtues of the believers in detail before declaring their ultimate success.
Context and Publication
Al-Muʿallimi wrote several exegetical studies across different stages of his career—during his time as a judge under the Idrisi rule in 'Asir, during his stay in India, and while working at the library of the Grand Mosque in Mecca (Maktabat al-Haram al-Makki). Most of his tafsir writings remained in draft and notebook form until they were gathered, edited, and published posthumously as volume 7 (Majmuʿ Rasaʾil al-Tafsir) in the complete edition of his works (Athar al-Muʿallimi), edited by Muhammad Ajmal al-Islahi and Ali ibn Muhammad al-Umran.
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