Tafsir al Qurtubi Vol I (PDF)

TAFSIR AL-Q_URTUBI
Classical Commentary of 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, electronic, 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.
7A 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 AlQurtubi 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
How to recite the Book of Allah and what is
disliked and forbidden in it
Cautioning the people of the Qur'an and scholars
against showing off
What the one who knows the Qur'an must do
and not neglect to do
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
What is reported about the excellence of tajsfr
of the Qur'an and those who do it
What is reported about the one who is a bearer
of the Qur'an, who he is and those who are
hostile to him
The respect and esteem for the Qur'an which is
mandatory for someone who recites and
bears the Qur'an
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
The Book being explained by the Sunna, and
what has been transmitted about that
How to learn and understand the Book of Allah
Xl

4
10
18
21

24
27

28

28

34
40