Indexed OCR Text

MA'ARIFUL
QUR'AN
A Comprehensive commentary on the Holy Quran
Volume
1
(Surah Al-Fatihah, Al-Baqarah)
By
Maulana Mufti Muhammad Shafi
Maktaba-e-Darul-'Uloom
Karachi.14 Pakistan

MA'ARIFUL-QUR'AN
By
MAULANA MUFTI MUHAMMAD SHAFI'
Translated by
Prof. Muhammad Hasan Askari,
Prof. Muhammad Shamim
Revised by
Justice Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani
Volume 1
(Surah Al-Fatihah, Al-Baqarah)

iii
CONTENTS
S.No
Subject
Page
CONTENTS
1.
.
Foreword
XV
2.
Transliteration Scheme
xxiii
INTRODUCTION
3.
Preface
XXV
4.
Wahy and its true nature
1
5.
The need for Wahy
1
6.
The modes of descent
4
7.
The chronology of the revelation of the Qur'an
6
8.
The verses that came first
7
9.
The Makki and Madani Verses
8
10.
Characteristics of Makki and Madani Verses
9
11.
The gradual revelation of the Noble Qur'an
11
12.
Sabab al-nuzül: (Cause of revelation)
12
13.
The seven readings of the Holy Qur'an
13
14.
The Seven Qaris
17
15.
The Preservation of the Holy Qur'an:
19
16.
In the days of the Holy Prophet
17.
The writing of Wahy
21
18.
Preservation: In the period of Sayyidna Abu Bakr
22
19.
Preservation: In the period of Sayyidna 'Uthman
26
31
22.
Marks of correct reading
32
23.
'Ahzab or Manazil
32
24.
Ajza' or parts
32
25.
Akhmas and A'shar: The sets of Fives and Tens
33
26.
Ruku' or section
33
27.
Rumuz al-Awqaf: Stop signs
34
28.
The printing of the Holy Qur'an
36
29:
An introduction to the science of Tafsir
36
30.
The sources of Tafsir
38
31.
The Glorious Qur'an
38
32
The Hadith
38
33.
The reports from the Sahabah
39
34.
The reports from the Tabi'in or Successors
39
35.
The Arabic Language
40
36
Deliberation and deduction
40
20.
Steps taken to facilitate recitation
21.
Inclusion of dots
31

iv
CONTENTS
S.No
Subject
Page
37.
The rules relating to Israelite reports
41
38.
A misconception about the tafsir of Qur'an
42
39
Famous Commentaries of the Qur'an
43
40.
Tafsir ibn Jarir
46
41.
Tafsir ibn Kathir
46
42.
Tafsir Al-Qurtubi
46
43.
Al-Tafsir al-Kabir
47
44.
Tafsir al-Bahr al-Muhit
48
45.
Ahkam al-Qur'an by al-Jassas
48
46.
Tafsir al-Durr al-Manthur
48
47.
Al-Tafsir al-Mazhari
49
48.
Rüh al-Ma'ani
49
Surah Al-Fatihah
49.
The merits and peculiarities of the Surah
53
50.
Bismillah is a verse of the Holy Qur'an
54
51.
The merits of Bismillah
55
52.
Commentary
57
53.
Injunctions and related Considerations
60
54.
Surah Al-Fatihah
62
55.
The Day of requital is real and rational:
67
56.
Who is the Master?
68
57.
The prayer for guidance
71
58.
The Implications of Guidance
72
59.
The meaning of Hidayah or guidance
72
60.
The first degree of guidance
72
61.
The second degree of guidance
74
62.
The third degree of guidance
74
63.
A cumulative view of guidance
75
64.
Guidance: Some notes of caution
75
65.
Which 'path' is 'straight'?
77
66.
The key to the straight path
79
67.
The conclusion
81
68.
Why the Schism?
81
69.
Injunctions and related Considerations
81
70.
The proper way of Praying to Allah
81
71.
Praising Allah is man's natural demand
82
72.
Self-Praise is not permitted
84
73.
Rabb is the exclusive attribute of Allah
85
74.
Seeking help from Allah
85
75.
Seeking Allah's help directly and indirectly
87
76.
Key to success in this world and in the Hereafter
91

V
CONTENTS
S.No
Subject
Page
Surah Al-Baqarah
77.
The name and the number of verses
95
78.
The period of revelation
95
79.
The merits of Surah Al-Baqarah
96
80.
Verses 1 - 5
97
81.
Who are the God-fearing
101
82.
The Definition of 'Iman
101
83.
The meaning of 'Establishing' Salah
102
84.
Spending in the way of Allah: Categories
103
85. .
The distinction between 'Iman and Islam
104
86.
An argument to the Finality of Prophethood
109
The God-fearing have faith in the Hereafter
110
87.
88.
Faith in the Hereafter: A revolutionary belief
111
89.
Verses 6 -7
113
90.
What is Kufr? (Infidelity)
115
The meaning of 'Indhar' (warning) by a Prophet
116
91.
92.
Favour withdrawn by Allah is a punishment
117
93.
A doubt is removed
118
94.
Verses 8 - 20
119
95.
Injunctions and related Considerations
125
96.
Removal of a doubt
128
97.
Lying is contemptible
128
98.
Misbehaving Prophets is to misbehave with Allah
128
99.
The curse of telling lies
128
100.
Who are reformers and mischief-makers
129
101.
Verses 21 - 22
131
102.
Commentary
133
103.
The Doctrine of Tauhid : A source of peace in human life
138
104.
Verses 23 - 24
139
105.
The miraculous Qur'an is a proof of prophethood of Muhammad
140
106.
The Holy Qur'an is a living miracle
142
107.
Qualities that make the Qur'an a miracle
143
108.
Answers to some doubts
147
109.
Verse 25 - 27
149
110.
Qur'anic parables: Test and guidance
152
111.
Who is fasiq?
152
112.
Living by the covenant with Allah
153
113.
Islamic concern about relationship to others
153
114.
Verses 28 - 29
154
115.
The life in 'Barzakh' (The period between death and resurrection)
156
116.
Verses 30 - 33
158

vi
CONTENTS
S.No
Subject
Page
117.
The creation of Adam
159
118.
Why Allah discussed Adam's creation with angels?
160
119.
Allah is the creator of the language
164
120.
Man is the viceregent of Allah on the earth
164
121.
The Holy Prophet
was the last Caliph of Allah on earth
165
122.
The issue of Caliphate after the Holy Prophet
167
123.
Verse 34
170
124.
Angel, prostration before Adam
171
125.
Verses 35 - 36
175
126.
Adam and Hawwa in Paradize
177
127.
The Prophets are innocent of all sins
179
128.
Verses 37 - 39
181
129.
Adam's prayer to Allah
181
130.
Descension of Adam was not a punishment
182
131.
The obedient are freed of worries
185
132.
Verses 40 - 42
187
133.
Injunctions and related considerations
190
134.
Verses 43 - 46
196
135.
Salah with Jama'ah: (congregation)
201
136.
An admonition to preachers without practice
204
137.
Khushu': The humbleness of heart
206
138.
Verses 47 - 48
209
139.
A doctrinal point
210
140.
Verse 49 - 51
210
141.
A doctrinal point
212
142.
Verses 52 - 58
213
143.
The meaning of Ihsan
218
144.
Verse 59
218
145.
Injunctions and related Considerations
219
146.
Verse 60
222
147.
An answer to a doubt about the Israelites
223
148.
Verses 61 - 66
223
149.
Injunctions and related Considerations
233
150.
Verses 67 - 73
235
151.
Injunctions and related consideration
238
152.
Verses 74 - 89
238
153.
Knowledge is not enough for 'Iman
253
154.
Verses 90 - 103
253
155.
What is magic? Definition and effects
269
156.
Magic and charms
269
157.
Sihr or magic: The Islamic view
270

CONTENTS
S.No
Subject
Page
158.
Kinds of magic
271
159.
The difference between miracle and magic
274
160.
Miracle and Magic: How to distinguish between them?
275
161.
Magic and Prophets
276
162.
Injunctions of the Shari'ah with regard to magic
276
163.
A doctrinal point
278
164.
Verses 104 - 107
278
165.
What is Naskh? (Abrogation)
282
166.
The kinds of abrogation
282
167.
The terminology of the Naskh
285
168.
Verses 108 - 115
287
169.
The differences between the Jews and the Christians.
291
170.
Injunctions and related Considerations
296
171.
The sanctity of the Mosque
297
172.
Verses 116 - 123
300
309
174.
The great trials put to Ibrahim
309
175.
Verse 125
318
176.
The History of Ka'bah
318
177.
Ibrahim migrated to Makkah
319
178.
Some injunctions related to the 'Haram'
322
179.
The Maqam-e-Ibrahim
324
180.
Verses 126 - 128
326
181.
The prayers of Ibrahim
326
182.
The Ibrahimic wisdom
328
183.
Verse 129
331
184.
The prayer of Ibrahim for the Holy Prophet y
332
185.
Verses 130 - 132
343
186.
Millat-e-Ibrahim (The Ibrahimic Way)
344
187.
Verses 133 - 134
348
188.
Injunctions and related considerations
351
189.
Verses 135 - 138
352
190.
The definition of 'Iman
354
191.
The terms Zilli and Buruzi are not valid
355
192.
The Colour of Allah
356
193.
Verses 139 - 141
357
194.
Verse 142
360
195.
The orientation of Qiblah
361
196.
Verse 143 ..
366
197.
The most moderate of all people
367
198.
The universal man
368
173.
Verse 124
vii

CONTENTS
viii
S.No
Subject
Page
199.
The universal community
370
200.
Moderateness: A comparative view
371
201.
Injunctions and related Considerations
374
202.
Verse 143 continued
375
203.
The History of the Qiblah
375
204.
Injunctions and related injunctions
377
205.
Verse 144
382
206.
The orientation to Qiblah
382
207.
Injunctions and related Considerations
383
208.
Verse 145 - 150
388
209.
The change of Qiblah
392
210.
Injunctions and related considerations
395
211.
Verses 151 - 152
397
212.
The Merits of 'Dhikr' (Rememberance)
399
213.
Verse 153
400
214.
The patience and the Salah.
400
215.
A remedy to all problems
402
216.
Verses 154 - 157
403
217.
The Martyrs are not dead
404
218.
Patience in hardship: The way to make it easy
406
219.
A formula of peace in hardship
406
220.
Verse 158
407
221.
Some terms and their meanings
408
222.
Sa'i between Safa and Marwah is Obligatory
408
223.
Verses 159 - 162
409
224.
The duty of spreading the Islamic Knowledge
410
225.
The Hadith is equal to the Qur'an by implication
412
226.
The evil consequences of some sins
412
227.
Cursing an individual is not permissible
413
228.
Verses 163 - 164
413
229.
Understanding Tauhid, the Oneness of Allah, in the wider sense
414
230.
Verses 165 - 169
416
231.
The meaning of the words
419
232.
Injunctions and Rulings
420
233.
Verses 170 - 171
420
234.
Comments on the nature of 'Taqlid'
421
235.
Verses 172 - 173
423
236.
The effects of eating Halal and Haram
424
237
Injunctions about the dead animal
426
238.
Injunctions and Rulings
426
239.
The blood
428

ix
'CONTENTS
S.No
Subject
Page
240.
Blood Transfusion
429
241.
The swine is forbiddan
430
242.
The consecrated animals
431
243.
The offering for anyone other than Allah
435
244.
Injunctions in situations of compulsion
435
245.
Special Note
436
246.
Using the forbidden as a cure, in necessity
436
247.
Using the forbidden as a cure without necessity
437
248.
The conclusion
438
249.
Verses 174 - 176
438
250.
Earning money against the Faith
439
251.
Verse 177
440
252.
The chapters of 'Birr' (the, virtures)
441
253.
Commentary
442
254.
Special Note
444
255.
Verses 178 - 179
445
256.
There is life in 'Qisas'
446
257.
Rulings
447
258.
Verses 180 - 182
449
259.
The Qur'anic view of making will
450
260.
Rulings
452
261.
Verses 183 - 184
453
262.
Commentary
453
263.
Past communities and the injunction to fast
454
264.
Fasting when sick
454
265.
Fasting when in travel
455
266.
Ruling
455
267.
Making Qada of the missed fast
456
268.
Ruling
456
269.
The Fidyah or Ransom for a missed Fast
456
270.
The amount of Ransom and other rulings
458
271.
Ruling 1.
458
272.
Ruling 2.
458
273.
Verse 185
458
274.
The merits of the month of Ramadan
459
275.
Rulings
460
276.
Note:
462
277.
Verse 186
462
278.
Allah is near His servants
462
279.
Verse 187
463
280.
Commentary
464

CONTENTS
S.No
Subject
Page
281.
Eating Sehri:
465
282.
Ruling:
467
283.
The worship of I'tikaf
468
284.
Ruling
468
285.
Observe the limits of Allah
469
286.
Verse 188
469
287.
Commentary
470
288.
The criterion of good and evil in earnings
470
289.
The virtues of the Islamic economic system
470
290.
The background of revelation
473
291.
Halal brings blessings; Haram produces evil:
475
292.
Questions man must answer on the Day of Resurrection
476
293.
Verses 189 - 191
477
294.
Commentary
479
295.
The lunar calendar is the Islamic choice
480
296.
Ruling
482
297.
Jihad: To fight in the way of Allah
482
485
299.
Verses 192 - 195
485
300.
Commentary
486
301.
Ruling
486
302.
Spending for Jihad
487
303.
Verses 196 - 203
489
304.
Injunctions concerning Hajj and 'Umrah
491
305.
The injunctions about 'Umrah
492
306.
Rules concerning Ihram
492
307.
Shaving in the state of Ihram?
493
308.
Combining Hajj and 'Umrah during Hajj months
494
309.
Al-Tamattu' and Al-Qiran; the two kinds of Hajj
495
310.
The warning against violation of rules
495
311.
The Hajj Months: Prohibitions
495
312.
The eloquence of the Qur'an
499
313.
Trading or earning during the Hajj
500
314.
Staying in 'Arafat and Muzdalifah:
501
315.
Human equality in practice
504
316
The prohibition of Jahili customs at Mina
504
317.
Moderation in religious and worldly pursuits
506
318.
The emphasis on remembering Allah in Mina
508
319.
Verses 204 - 210
511
320.
Commentary
512
321.
Special note
516
298.
Rulings
X

CONTENTS
S.No
Subject
Page
322.
Verses 211 - 214
517
323.
Commentary
519
324.
Verse 215
527
325.
Commentary
528
326.
Rulings
530
327.
328.
Verses 216 - 218
531
Explanation in brief
532
329.
Injunctions and related Considerations
533
330.
The Injunction relating to fighting in the sacred months
536
331.
The evil consequences of Apostasy
537
332.
Verse 219
539
333.
Commentary
539
334.
335.
The prohibition of wine, and related injunctions
539
The gradual forbiddance of wine
541
336.
The matchless obedience of the blessed Companions
543
Islamic strategy for a social change
544
The good and evil of wine
545
The forbiddance of wine: A complete view
546
The Unlawfulness of Gambling
548
550
342.
343.
Verses 219 - 221
554
553
344.
Inter-Marriage between Muslims and Kafirs is Prohibited
555
345.
Special notes from Bayan al-Qur'an
559
346.
Verses 222 - 223
560
347.
No sexual intercourse during menstruation
560
348.
Verse 224 - 227
561
349.
Notes:
562
350.
Verse 228
564
351.
A great verse defining the status of man and woman
564
352.
The place of women in Islam
564
353.
The status of women in pre Islamic society
565
354.
Man's guardianship is essential for peace and order
567
568
355.
A conflict and its Resolution
356.
Man's higher position over woman is for discipline only
569
357.
Verses 229 - 230
572
358.
Commentary
573
359.
Marriage, divorce and the rules governing them
573
360.
Detailed injunctions regarding three divorces at a time
578
361.
Three divorces given unlawfully are effective
583
362.
The action taken by Sayyidna Faruq Al-A'zam
586
337.
338.
339.
340.
341.
Social ill-effects of gambling
Some juristic rules and related notes
xi

CONTENTS
xii
S.No
Subject
Page
363.
Verses 231 - 232
591
364.
Commentary
591
365.
Special instructions for revocation of divorce or annulment
of marriage
592
366.
Do not make a marriage and divorce a plaything
595
367.
The basic rules of giving a divorce
596
368.
Rules of the remarriage of the divorced women
597
369.
The Quranic strategy about the enforcement of law
600
370.
Verse 233
602
371.
The injunctions of suckling the children by the mothers
602
372.
Suckling of children is an obligation of the mother
603
373.
The total period of suckling
603
374.
375.
376.
377.
Responsibilities of mothers and fathers
604
The standard of wife's liabilities
605
Forcing or not forcing a mother for suckling
605
Wages of suckling for a divorced woman
605
The responsibility of suckling an orphan
606
378.
379.
The injunctions of weaning
607
380.
Injunctions of suckling by a nurse
607
381.
Verses 234 - 235
608
382.
Some injunctions relating to 'Iddah
609
383.
Verses 236 - 237
609
384.
385.
Commentary
610
Verses 238 - 239
612
386.
Commentary
612
387.
Verses 240 - 242
613
388.
Verse 241: The divorced women deserve a benefit
614
389.
Verses 243 - 244
615
390.
Commentary
615
391.
Relating Injunctions and Rulings
619
392.
Divine decree overcomes human planning
619
393.
Rules pertaning to the place of epidemic
619
394.
Some Exceptions
622
395.
Verses 245 - 251
624
396.
Commentary
624
397.
Verse 248: The story of Talut and Jalut
628
398.
Verse 252 - 255
629
399.
Commentary
630
400.
The merits of Ayat-al Kursi
633
401.
Verses 256 - 258
637
402.
Injunctions and related Considerations
641

CONTENTS
xiii
S.No
Subject
Page
403.
Verses 259 - 260
641
404.
Commentary
642
405.
Some related questions and their answers
645
406.
Verses 261 - 266
647
407.
Commentary
649
408.
A similitude of spending in the way of Allah
650
409.
Conditions that make charity a worship
651
410.
Conditions that make charity go in vain
652
411.
Verses 267 - 274
656
412.
Commentary
658
413.
Injunctions relating to Injunctions relating to the
lands, liable to 'Ushr'
659
414.
Al-Hikmah: Meaning and Explanation
660
415.
Verses 275 - 281
664
416.
The Prohibition of Riba
665
417.
Some additional details about Riba
684
418.
Summing up the discussion
690
419.
The wisdom behind the prohibition of riba
691
420.
Economic drawbacks of riba or interest
694
421.
The design for deception
698
422.
A doubt and its answer
700
423.
The obligation of Zakah ensures progress in business
701
424.
Interest: The spiritual ills:
701
425.
Is it impossible to run a business without interest?
702
426.
Sayings of the Holy Prophet & about Riba or Interest:
705
427.
Verses 282 - 283
708
428.
The Qur'anic injunctions on Loan
709
429.
The rules of witnessing
711
430.
The number of witnesses
711
431.
The qualifications of witnesses
712
432.
Refusing the act of witnessing is a sin
712
433.
Witnesses should not suffer
712
434.
Verse 284 - 286
714
435.
Commentary
719

XV
Foreward
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
الحمد لله وكفى، وسلام على عباده الذين اصطفى
FOREWORD
by
Justice Maulana Muhammad Taqi Usmani
Ma'ariful-Qur'an is the name of a detailed Urdu commentary of the
Holy Qur'an written by my father Maulana Mufti Muhammad Shafi'
(„Je JI,). He was one of the eminent scholars who served as a
professor and as a grand Mufti of Darul-Uloom Deoband, the
well-known university of the Islamic Sciences in the sub-continent of
India. In 1943, he resigned from Darul-Uloom, due to his active
involvement in the Pakistan movement, and when Pakistan came into
existence, he migrated to Karachi where he devoted his life for this
new homeland of the Muslims and served the country in different
capacities. He also established Darul-Uloom Karachi, an outstanding
institute of Islamic Sciences on the pattern of Darul-Uloom Deoband,
which is regarded today as the biggest private institute of higher
Islamic education in Pakistan.
He was a prolific writer who left behind him about one hundred
books on different Islamic and literary subjects. Ma'ariful-Qur'an was
the last great work he accomplished four years before his demise.
The origin of Ma'ariful-Qur'an refers back to the third of Shawwal
1373 A.H. (corresponding to the 2nd of July 1954) when the author
was invited to give weekly lectures on the Radio Pakistan to explain
selected verses of the Holy Qur'an to the general audience. This
invitation was accepted by the author on the condition that he would
not accept any remuneration for this service and that his lectures
would be broadcast without any interference by the editing
authorities. The permanent title of this weekly programme was

xvi
Foreward
"Ma'ariful-Qur'an" (The Wisdom of the Holy Qur'an) and it was
broadcast every Friday morning on the network of Radio Pakistan.
This series of lectures continued for ten years upto the month of
June 1964 whereby the new authorities stopped the programme for
reasons best known to them. This series of lectures contained a
detailed commentary on selected verses from the beginning of the Holy
Qur'an upto the Surah Ibrahim (Surah no. 14).
This weekly programme of Radio Pakistan was warmly welcomed
by the Muslims throughout the globe and used to be listened to by
thousands of Muslims, not only in Pakistan and India but also in
Western and African countries.
After the programme was discontinued, there was a flood of
requests from all over the world to transfer this series in a book-form
and to complete the remaining part of the Holy Qur'an in the shape of
a regular commentary.
These requests persuaded the esteemed author to revise these
lectures and to add those verses which were not included in the
original lectures. He started this project in 1383 A.H. (1964) and
completed the commentary of Surah al-Fatihah in its revised form and
started the revision of Surah al-Baqarah. However, due to his
numerous involvements he had to discontinue this task, and it
remained unattended during the next five years.
In Shawwal 1388 (1969) the esteemed author suffered from a
number of diseases which made him restricted to his bed. It was
during this ailment that he restarted this work while on bed and
completed Surah al-Baqarah in the same condition. Since then he
devoted himself to the "Ma'ariful-Qur'an". Despite a large number of
obstacles in his way, not only from the political atmosphere of the
country and the difficult responsibilities he had on his shoulders in
different capacities, but also from his health and physical condition, he
never surrendered to any of them and continued his work with a
miraculous speed until he accomplished the work in eight volumes
(comprising of about seven thousand pages) within five years only.
After appearing in a regular book-form, Ma'ariful-Qur'an was
highly appreciated and widely admired by the Urdu-knowing Muslims
throughout the world. Thousands of copies of the book are still
circulated every year, and the demand for the book is so increasing

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that it has always been a problem for its publisher to satisfy the
demand to its optimum.
A Few Words about the present English
Translation of Ma'ariful-Qur'an
Let me say a few words about the present English translation of
the Ma'ariful-Qur'an.
Although a large number of English translations of the Holy
Qur'an is available in the market, yet no comprehensive commentary
of the Holy Qur'an has still appeared in the English language. Some
brief footnotes found with some English translations cannot fulfil the
need of a detailed commentary. Besides, they are generally written by
the people who did not specialize themselves in the Qur'anic sciences,
and their explanatory notes do not often reflect the authentic
interpretation of the Holy Qur'an. Some such notes are based on an
arbitrary interpretation having no foundation in the recognized
principles of the exegesis of the Holy Qur'an, and are thus misleading
for a common reader.
On the other hand, during the last few decades, the Muslim
population has increased among the English speaking countries in
enormous numbers. These people and their new generations need a
detailed commentary of the Holy Qur'an which may explain to them
the correct message of the last divine book with all the relevant
material in an authentic manner which conforms to the recognized
principles of tafsir (the exegesis of the Holy Qur'an).
Since Ma'ariful-Qur'an was the latest book written on these lines
and was proved to be beneficial for a layman as well as for a scholar, it
was advised by different circles that its English translation may fulfill
the need.
It made me look for a person who might undertake the task, not
only with his professional competence, but also with his commitment
to serve the Holy Qur'an.
Fortunately, I succeeded in persuading Prof. Muhammad Hasan
Askari, the well-known scholar of English literature and criticism, to
undertake the translation. In the beginning he was reluctant due to
his strong sense of responsibility in the religious matters, but when I
assured him of my humble assistance throughout his endeavor, he not

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only agreed to the proposal, but started the work with remarkable
devotion. Despite my repeated requests, he did never accept any
honorarium or a remuneration for his service. He was a chain-smoker.
But he never smoked during his work on Ma'ariful-Qur'an, which
sometimes lasted for hours.
In this manner he completed the translation of about 400 pages of
the original Urdu book and 156 verses of the Surah al-Baqarah, but
unfortunately, his sudden demise discontinued this noble effort.
Strangely enough, the last portion he translated was the commentary
of the famous verse:
ولنبلونكم بشيئ من الخوف والجوع ونقص من الأموال والا نفس والثمرات
وبشر الصابرين 0 الذين اذا اصابتهم مصيبة قالوا انا لله وانا اليه راجعون 0
And surely, We will test you with a bit of fear and hunger and
loss in wealth and lives and fruits. And give good tidings to the
patient who, when they suffer a calamity, say, 'We certainly be-
long to Allah and to Him we are bound to return'.
Prof. Askari passed away in 1977, and due to my overwhelming
occupations during the next 12 years, I could not find out a suitable
person to substitute him. It was in 1989, that Prof. Muhammad
Shamim offered his services to resume the translation from where
Prof. Askari had left it. I found in him the same sincerity, commitment
and devotion I had experienced in the late Professor. Moreover, he had
decided to devote the rest of his life to the service of the Holy Qur'an
without any financial benefit. Here again I tried my best to persuade
him to accept some kind of honorarium, but it was in vain. He started
his work from the Verse 158 of Surah al-Baqarah and has now
completed the translation of the first two volumes of the original
Ma'ariful-Qur'an and is working on the third volume.
Both Prof. Muhammad Hasan Askari and Prof. Muhammad
Shamim have insisted that their translations must be revised by me
from the religious point of view. For this purpose, I have gone through
the typescript of the translations of both of them and suggested some
amendments where it was necessary.
The translation of Prof. Askari had been started at a time when
the esteemed author of Ma'ariful-Qur'an was still alive. We were
fortunate to receive some guide-lines from the author himself. He had

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advised the translators not to be too literal in translation to sacrifice
the natural flow of the text. Moreover, he had emphasized that while
rendering his book into English, the requirements of English
readership must be kept in mind. Some discussions may be dispensed
with. Similarly, many paragraphs may be condensed in the English
version in order to avoid repetition.
The esteemed author had authorised me for suitable decisions in
these matters. Both the learned translators, despite their earnest
effort to reflect the original text as accurately as possible, have
followed, in consultation with me, the said advices of the author
himself. However they have never tried to sacrifice the original
concept of the text for the beauty of language alone. Particularly, in
the juristic discussions of the book, they have been very strict in the
translation, lest some change in the style should creep in and distort
the accurate connotation of the Islamic injunctions. In such places, the
reader may feel some difficulty. However, a more concentrate reading
can easily remove it.
Translation of the Holy Qur'an
The original Urdu Ma'ariful-Qur'an had not given a new
translation of the Holy Qur'an itself. Rather, the esteemed author had
adopted the Urdu translations of Maulana Mahmoodul-Hasan
(Shaikhul-Hind) and Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanavi on which he based
his commentary. While rendering the book into English, we had three
options about the translation of the Holy Qur'an:
(a) To adopt any one of the already available English translations
of the Holy Qur'an, like those of Arberry, Pickthall or Abdullah
Yousuf Ali.
(b) To translate the Urdu translations used in the Ma'ariful-Qur'an
into English.
(c) To provide a new translation of our own.
After a great deal of consideration and consultation, we elected to
work on the third option, i.e. to prepare a new translation of the Holy
Qur'an. The reasons behind this decision were manifold which need
not be detailed here. In short, we wanted to prepare a translation
which may be closer to the Qur'anic text and easier to understand. For
this purpose, we formed a committee with the following members:

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1. Prof. Muhammad Shameem.
2. Mr. Muhammad Wali Raazi.
3. This humble writer.
This committee has accomplished the translation of the Holy
Qur'an upto the Surah Yusuf and is still going on with this project.
The committee has all the famous available translations of the
Holy text before it, and after a deep study of the relevant material
found in the classical Arabic commentaries, lays down the new
translation in as simple expressions as possible. While doing so, we
have tried our best that the different possible interpretations of the
Qur'anic text remain undisturbed, and the new translation
accommodates as many of them as practicable. We have tried not to
impose on our reader a particular interpretation where several
interpretations were equally possible. However, where the translation
could not accommodate more than one connotation, we have followed
the one adopted by the majority of the classic commentators including
Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanavi on whose translation the
Ma'ariful-Qur'an is based.
Despite all these sincere efforts, one cannot avoid the admission
that the exact translation of the Holy Qur'an is impossible. One cannot
convey the glory and the beauty of the divine expression in any other
language, let alone the English language which, despite its vast
vocabulary, seems to be miserable when it comes to the expression of
spiritual concepts. Therefore, even after observing all the precautions
at our command, we feel that we were trying to translate a text which
is - as Arberry has rightly put it - totally untranslatable.
However, this is another humble effort to convey the basic message
of the Holy Qur'an to a common reader in a simple manner. How far
we have succeeded in this effort? Allah knows best.
The Scheme of the Translation
Now, here are some points to be kept in mind while consulting the
translation.
1. Although the translators have tried their best to preserve not
only the literal sense of the Holy text, but also the order of words and
sentences, yet, while translating the idiomatic expressions, it is

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sometimes felt that the literal translation may distort the actual
sense or reduce the emphasis embodied in the Arabic text. At such
places effort has been made to render the Quranic sense into a closer
English expression.
2. Both in the translation of the Holy Qur'an and in the
commentary, a uniform scheme of transliteration has been adopted.
The scheme is summarized in the beginning pages of the book.
3. The names of the prophets have been transliterated according to
their Arabic pronunciation, and not according to their biblical form.
For example, the biblical Moses has been transliterated as Musa Lle
JI, which is the correct Arabic pronunciation. Similarly, instead of
biblical Abraham, the Qur'anic Ibrahim Jule and instead of Joseph,
the Qur'anic Yusuf عليه السلام has been preferred.
However, in the names other than those of prophets, like Pharaoh,
their English form has been retained.
4. A permanent feature of the original Urdu Ma'ariful-Qur'an is its
"Khulasa-e-Tafseer" (Summary). Under every group of verses, the
esteemed author has given a brief summary of the meaning of the
verses to help understand them in one glimpse. This summary was
taken from Bayan-ul-Qur'an, the famous commentary of Maulana
Ashraf Ali Thanavi de JI, . He has set up this summary by adding
some explanatory words or sentences within brackets to his Urdu
translation. The esteemed author of Ma'ariful-Qur'an has reproduced
this summary (after simplification in some places) with the heading
of-Khulasa-e-Tafsir Low before his own commentary to the
·relevant group of verses.
While translating Ma'ariful-Qur'an into English, it was very diffi-
cult, rather almost impossible, to give that summary in the same fash-
ion. Therefore, the translators have restricted themselves to the com-
mentary of Ma'ariful-Qur'an and have not translated the Khulasa-e-
Tafsir two. However, where they found some additional points in
the summary which are not expressly mentioned in the commentary,
they have merged those points into the main commentary, so that the
English reader may not be deprived of them.
It is only by the grace of Allah Almighty that in this way we could
be able to present this first volume of this huge work. The second
-