TAFSIR AL-Q_URTUBI of Classical Commentary the Holy OJ!!'an TRANSLATED BY AISHA BEWLEY VOLUME I OAR AL-TAQ_WA © Dar AI Taqwa Ltd. 2003 ISBN 1-870582-22-5 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, elec tronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers. The Qur'an translation is taken from The Noble Qur'an:A New Rendering of its Meaning in English, by Abdalhaqq and Aisha Bewley, and the copyright of that translation is held by them. Translation: Aisha Bewley Editor: Abdalhaqq Bewley and Printed and Bound by The Bath Press Production: Bookwork, Norwich Cover design by Sohail Nakhooda Floral ornament by Ibrahim Batchelder Published by: Dar Al Taqwa Ltd. 7 A Melcombe Street Baker Street London NW I 6AE In the name of God, most Gracious, most Merciful The publisher of lmam Al-Qurtubi inspiring book, Tafseer Al Qurtubi are deeply grateful to the Professor Jibril Aminu, for his generosity in making the publication of the book possible. HADIYYAT DISTRIBUTED FEE SABEELILLAH BY PROFESSOR JIBRIL AMINU NIGERIA FOREWORD I am delighted to have this opportunity to contribute in some way to the publication of al-Qurtubi's Tafsir, which represents a landmark in the history of commentaries on the Holy Qur'an in the English language. The appearance of this translation will give English-speaking readers access to one of the great classical commentaries and the wealth of knowledge that it contains. Authoritative exposition of the meanings of the Qur' anic text requires consideration of many different aspects including the spiritual, linguistic, legal and historical ones. Imam al-Qurtubi's Tafsir is remarkable in many ways, but he was especially interested in the legal interpretation of the Scripture. This is clear from the original title of his work, which is al-Jami 'li-ankam al-Qur'an ("The Compendium of Qur' anic Decrees"). I congratulate the publishers of this work, Dar al-Taqwa, and the translators on their initiative in making available a major classic of Islamic literature. May Allah Most High accept their efforts, and may this work inspire the ambitions and aid the efforts of many students and scholars in their research on the meaning of the Glorious Qur' an. Professor Jibril Amino. Nigeria. ix Table of Contents Preface xv Introduction 1 The General Virtues of the Qur'an and encouragement to study it 4 How to recite the Book of Allah and what is disliked and forbidden in it 10 Cautioning the people of the Qur'an and scholars against showing off 18 What the one who knows the Qur'an must do and not neglect to do 21 The syntax of the Qur'an, learning it and studying it and the reward for the one who recites the Qur'an with proper inflections 24 What is reported about the excellence of tajsfr of the Qur'an and those who do it 27 What is reported about the one who is a bearer of the Qur'an, who he is and those who are hostile to him 28 The respect and esteem for the Qur'an which is mandatory for someone who recites and bears the Qur'an 28 What is reported regarding threats against engaging in tajsfr of the Qur'an by means of opinion (ra 'y) or being bold in that, and the ranks of the commentators 34 The Book being explained by the Sunna, and what has been transmitted about that 40 How to learn and understand the Book of Allah Xl Contents xu and the Sunna of His Prophet. It is reported that it used to be easier to act by it than to memorise it 42 The meaning of the words of the Prophet, "The Qur'an was revealed in seven al:zruf (dialects/modes)." 43 Section on the seven readings 47 Section: The J:tadith of 'Umar and Hisham 48 The collection of the Qur'an and the reason 'Uthman had copies of the Qur'an copied out and burned rest. The memorisation of the Qur'an by the Companions in the time of the Prophet 51 What has come about the order of the suras and iiyatsof the Qur'an, its vowelling and dots, its J:tizbs and tens, the number of its letters,juz's, words and iiyats 58 The meaning of the words sura, iiyat, kalima (word) and J:taif(letter) 64 Does the Qur'an contain words which are not Arabic? 66 Points about the inimitability of the Qur'an, preconditions of the miracle and its reality 67 Information about aJ:tiid!th forged about the excellence of the suras of the Qur'an and other matters 71 What has come on the refutation of those who attack the Qur'an and oppose the text of 'Uthman by adding to it or removing some of it 73 Seeking Refuge with Allah from Shaytan 74 TheBasmala 78 1 Siirat al-Fiiti!Ja 93 Its Virtues 94 Its Names 97 Its Revelation 100