Taysir al-Tafsir lil-Qattan
- Author died
- 1404 AH
- Editions
- Taysir al-Tafsir lil-Qattan
Taysir al-Tafsir (Facilitating Exegesis) is a contemporary Quranic commentary by the Jordanian scholar, judge, and linguist Ibrahim al-Qattan (1335–1404 AH / 1916–1984 CE) .
Composition and Publication
The work followed al-Qattan's earlier major scholarly book, Atharat al-Munjid (Lapses of al-Munjid), published in 1392 AH . Two volumes of Taysir al-Tafsir were issued prior to the author's death . The text was reviewed, vocalized, and supervised for print by Imran Ahmad Abu Hijlah in Amman, Jordan, with editions published in 1402 AH / 1982 CE—printed at the presses of the Royal Scientific Society—and in 1984 CE .
Method and Content
The commentary provides direct, simplified explanations of Quranic terms and passages . In theological passages dealing with divine attributes, al-Qattan frequently adopts figurative interpretations (ta'wil) :
- In glossing صِبْغَةَ اللَّهِ (The dye of God) in Surat al-Baqarah: 138, he explains it as the innate disposition (fitrah) upon which God created mankind .
- On verses concerning God's hand (yad), he notes that the word carries various linguistic meanings, including a physical limb, favor, power, and dominion .
- Regarding God's establishing Himself over the Throne ( ثُمَّ اسْتَوَى عَلَى الْعَرْشِ ), he interprets istiwa' as taking sovereign possession and dominion (istawla), and defines the Throne (al-arsh) as the royal seat or the center of cosmic governance whose reality remains unknown .
- For occurrences of بِأَعْيُنِنَا (Before Our eyes), such as in Surat Hud: 37 and Surat al-Qamar: 14, he glosses the phrasing as "under Our care," "with Our protection," and "under Our guardianship" .
Answer updated