The ulema (religious scholars) of Deoband have played a mind boggling role in spreading the knowledge of deen (religion) in this day and age. Their efforts to preserve the pristine purity of Islam were mostly directed to spreading the knowledge of deen in every facet.
Quran Tafseer by Ulema of Deoband
One such field, in which the magnificent works of scholars of Deoband stand out like a rose in a concrete floor, is the field of Tafseer (commentary of Quran).
All the various Tafseers written by scholars of Deoband, despite each having its own unique style, are unified in their objective, to simplify the understanding of the Noble Quran for the ummah (Muslim community). We present a few of the more famous Tafseers.
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Tafseer e Usmani by Mufti Mehmudul Hasan
After realizing that the rut in the ummah has set in due to abandoning the Quran, Shaykhul Hind Mufti Mahmudul Hasan Deobandi decided to write a simple translation of the Quran.
Shaykhul Hind commenced the tafseer while he was imprisoned in Malta by the British.
After completing the translation, Shaykhul Hind began the footnotes but only managed to finish until the end of Surah Al e Imran before death overtook him.
Maulana Shabbir Ahmad Usmani thereafter took up the great task of finishing the footnotes, bringing the book to completion in 1350 A.H.
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Bayanul Quran by Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi
Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi completed Bayanul Quran in 1353. This three volume masterpiece is unique in the following aspects:
- Lengthy narratives and rulings were excluded, the object being a basic understanding of the Quran.
- In those verses in which many opinions occur regarding the meaning, only the preferred one is mentioned.
- This tafseer benefits both, the general masses and the ulema. For the ulema, a special foot-note has been added in Arabic consisting of balaghat (eloquence), nahw (grammar), fiqhi masail, the different qiraat as well as masail of tasawwuf extracted from the Quran.
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Maariful Quran by Maulana Idris Kandhelwi
Maulana Idris Kandhelwi wrote this tafseer consisting of eight volumes in 1382 (1962). He had based his translation on that of Shah Abdul Qadir.
He was known to have a special talent of pointing out the connection between the verses, which is an important aspect of tafseer.
Masail (issues) of aqaid (beliefs) and fiqh (jurisprudence) have been explained in ample detail. Before he passed away, he was only able to finish till Surah Saffat. Later his son completed the tafseer.
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Maariful Quran by Mufti Muhammad Shafi
In 1954 Mufti Muhammad Shafi commenced lessons of tafseer on Radio Pakistan. The lesson was delivered every Friday on a selected portion of the Quran and was meant to cater for the needs of every average Muslim.
However, upon receiving numerous requests from enthusiastic listeners to publish the tafseer in a book form, he began its compilation and completed it in 1963.
He mentions the specialties of the tafseer as the following:
- Most tafseers have such information which is only beneficial for ulema, commenting on nahw (grammar), balaghat (eloquence), and different qiraats (readings) etc. which are of no use to the masses. As a result of these intricate details, the public began to think that understanding the Quran is very difficult.
- During the writing of this tafseer, Mufti Sahib kept in mind that it should be kept simple since the average Muslim is not able to understand technical terms and finer points.
- Special importance was given to discussing those topics which generate the love and greatness of Allah and Nabi (Prophet) in one’s heart.
- Likewise, those points have been adequately discussed which encourage a person to correct his actions, and to practice on the Quran.
- Before the detailed tafseer, an overview of the verses are mentioned which suffices for a busy person to understand the Quran.
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The above works done by scholars of Deoband in the service of Quran proves that the ulema of Deoband did everything in their power to fulfil the need of the time i.e. to create in the masses an understanding of the Quran. May Allah accept their concerted efforts and ignite in our hearts that same flame of desire to serve deen.
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