[Bill-Watson]

No need to delete the post.
I did have faint feeling that this recommendation will not go through unquestioned.
Indeed some care has to be exercised while taking your Tafseer from Dr Israr Ahmed (RA).
I like his presentation but I do stand corrected by 'Ulama on each and every point on which Dr Israr Ahmed (RA) deviates. My personal feeling is that the points will not be too many and not very serious. But again I do stand corrected by our respected 'Ulama.
In this context some people will assert that let us restrict ourselves to exegeses like Ma'arif-ul-Qur'an.
And the suggestion is indeed a good one.
But there is one aspect of modern life that can not be ignored, that should not be ignored and that need not be ignored. It is science and technology.
It can not be ignored because Allah (SWT) asks us to ponder or the creation and this pondering inevitably leads to science and technology.
It should not be ignored because others have used it to put Islam ind Muslims in corner.
It need not be ignored because by the Grace of Allah (SWT) we Muslims have enough scientists and engineers in the Ummah with suitable competence that, Lord willing, we shall not be overwhelmed in our Deen by science and technology.
In view of this it is natural that we benefit from scientific advancements in our exegeses too. And when I say that I do not mean that we should have the best printing facilities. We should have them and we do have them - like the Saudi Qur'an Printing Complex. What I am saying that we should incorporate scientific revelations into our understanding of the Noble Qur'an. And even this idea is not terribly original. It is well known that Razi's exegesis is less tafseer and more astronomy. Clearly the task has to be carried forward.
Dr Israr Ahmed, in my view, was one of those who did carry it forward.
And, like many users at SF, brother Uber-Mensch does have a feeling and inclination, in my miserable opinion, for things take advantage of modern sciences. Thus for me it was a natural choice to mention Dr Israr Ahmed.

Slightly long winding but I hope that I have put my point across.

@Saaalik and Syamuj,
for your kind words. May Allah (SWT) keep us firm on the straight path by holding us by our forelocks.

@lighthouse
Akhi those are the type of things that I was aiming at. People in psychology say that man's struggle for psychological maturity is the grandest battle and many people do take this battle. It is true that it is a great battle except for one qualification. The grandest battle is to recognize the purpose of life and that is what Islam is about. Battle for Ma'arifah is the biggest one. Ma'arifah leads to understanding of the Noble Qur'an - the word of God. And this is a book that would have crushed a mountain if it were to descend on it. What battle can thus be more difficult and magnificent than your journey towards God?

aoa,
well explained though I have not examined his 'deviations' personally nor am i qualified to do a comparison. i like his lectures though

[Roneyslelry]

I love the way how Maulana Tariq Jameel saab explains some verses of Quran.His explanation shows how erudite he is in this wonderful art of explaining the Quran.

It's a real spell-bound the way Allah addresses to his servants,whether he is a believer or non-believer.'Yaa Ayyahullazeena Aamanu' ,Yaa Ayyahul insaan' 'Yaa ayyahun Naas' (and similar such verses) makes your body atrophied that how Allah calls out to us to makes us explain what He wants from us.

The Aayat 'Yaa Ayyahul insaan,maa gharraka bi rabbi kal kareem' in which as explained by Maulana Sahib in the mafum of the translation, Allah complains or asks to the whole humanity that what is stopping us from submitting to the will of Allah . This ayat sometimes and the very thought that how much Allah keeps his servants so dear to Himself makes You cry.

May Allah give Us the toufeeq to understand the beauty of his kalaam which is so important for achieving the Ma'arifat of Allah.
Aameen.

[Matajic]

Yes, I agree.

Uber_mench, watch the Tafseer lectures of Nouman Ali Khan (you can find them on you tube)
He did a detailed analysis of Juz 'Amma, and his friend (Abdul Nasir) just started the Tafseer lectures for Juz Tabarak.
http://bayyinah.com/podcast/

He is a wahhabi, or at least a crypto-wahabi.

I've ordered Qutb's tafsir, after reading a bit of it online, it seems a lot more engaging to read compared to something, lacking in flow like ibn kathir which is a bit difficult because of the style.

[formobilagsw]

Here is the link to Tafseer-e-Usmani.

[AALee]

He is a wahhabi, or at least a crypto-wahabi.

What? Where'd you hear that? Does that even matter?
He is very knowledgeable about the Arabic Language, so please do not insult him. For all you know, In the eyes of Allah, he might have a higher rank than you.

[autolubitelone]

What? Where'd you hear that? Does that even matter?
He is very knowledgeable about the Arabic Language, so please do not insult him. For all you know, In the eyes of Allah, he might have a higher rank than you.

Search the forums.

It does matter, because then whatever he says is suspect.

[Ubgvuncd]

What? Where'd you hear that? Does that even matter?
He is very knowledgeable about the Arabic Language, so please do not insult him. For all you know, In the eyes of Allah, he might have a higher rank than you.

I usually avoid 'wahhabi' speakers. Never got the wahhabi vibe from ustad Nouman Ali Khan. He almost never discusses Fiqh or controversial issues. I'd say keep on listening to him we will get the benefit.

[ticfarentibia]

Nobody is discussing about 'actually' getting attached to the Quran. Well listen to the beautiful recitation of Suratul Yusuf with translation:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WvoXlVVjp6E

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOvnjvW1_NI&feature=relmfu

[YmolafBp]

I usually avoid 'wahhabi' speakers. Never got the wahhabi vibe from ustad Nouman Ali Khan. He almost never discusses Fiqh or controversial issues. I'd say keep on listening to him we will get the benefit.

Thts cause he's not qualified to speak of those things. He's not a scholar.

[pissmanvd]

Allah (SWT) tells us in the Noble Qur'an that people of iman love Allah (SWT) intensely.

Clearly we value iman and we would like to observe its sign - like the appearance of intense love for Allah (SWT). Our elders have told us that the way to inculcate intense love of Allah (SWT) is to ponder over Allah (SWT)'s blessings to us. If we do that we shall start feeling more and more love for Him leading to intense love. Our hearts are disposed to love those who do us good. And who has done us more god than our Lord Most High?

And when we love some one we like to hear his or her voice. His or her words. Ergo a sign of intense love for Allah (SWT) will be that we would like to hear his words - we would be eager to hear them. It could be the meaning or it could be the recitation.

[eCw56dzY]

Allah (SWT) tells us in the Noble Qur'an that people of iman love Allah (SWT) intensely.

Clearly we value iman and we would like to observe its sign - like the appearance of intense love for Allah (SWT). Our elders have told us that the way to inculcate intense love of Allah (SWT) is to ponder over Allah (SWT)'s blessings to us. If we do that we shall start feeling more and more love for Him leading to intense love. Our hearts are disposed to love those who do us good. And who has done us more god than our Lord Most High?

And when we love some one we like to hear his or her voice. His or her words. Ergo a sign of intense love for Allah (SWT) will be that we would like to hear his words - we would be eager to hear them. It could be the meaning or it could be the recitation.

"MA har che khwanda yaim,Faramosh karda yaim
Illa 'hadeeth e yar' ke tikrar me kunaim"

[Clunlippibe]

"MA har che khwanda yaim,Faramosh karda yaim
Illa 'hadeeth e yar' ke tikrar me kunaim"

Wallahi!

Whatever I know, I strive to delete that
Except for beloved's story, I repeat that

[simmons latex mattress]

Our elders have told us that the way to inculcate intense love of Allah (SWT) is to ponder over Allah (SWT)'s blessings to us.

aoa,
i agree. a superb point.

[Dreqsqse]

Assalaamu alaikum - a really really humble request - where there is an ayat or trasliteration of the quranic ayat quoted - could you at least name the surah/ayah number, or better still - translate it? Just so some of us may have the reference.

And also insha'Allah - english is very nuanced - with great respect - it is better to say, 'in the sight of Allah' as opposed to 'in the eyes of Allah'.....at least i feel so...but I may be wrong.



I wanted to say, Jzk to brother Maripat - for his first post - and to brother Lighthouse (i don't know the meaning of that ayah.. my ignorance, forgive me)....but thank you for it. Alhamdulillah.

I wanted to say, I too have experienced the weight of surat al-asr. And that certainty you refer to - it wholeheartedly comes through in that sura -- especially for the one who is despairing. It is so weighty.

[casinobonbone]

brothers, I agree with Sister Khadijah about the importance of providing surah/ayat numbers so that the thread is more inclusive of varying degrees of deeni knowledge, and is clearer and easier to follow.

[gniewkoit]

Sister Khadija's request is noted by me, I am sure others too will take note of that.
Basically it is difficult to give the reference in those cases where your information has become cultural, I take it as a good thing. When Islam becomes part of the culture then it has grown deeper roots. But in the cases that I can manage I shall strive to give the reference but in others I seek ever body's indulgence.

PS: Brother lighthouse has quoted a Persian couplet which expresses intense love of Allah (SWT).

[iceleliewBync]

[TeNuaTe]

Difficult question for me.

I have said in another post some where and I'll admit it here. Mostly the tafaseer are multi volume works. A thirty volume work is not uncommon because of obvious reasons - there are thirty parts in a usual division of the book. The consequence for me is that I have not read even one of them completely.

Maulana Fazl-ur-Rahman Sahab Ginnori (DB) of Pakistan is an expert on Tafaseer. Once he gave a two part lecture on the recent trends in tafseer. After that some one asked the inevitable question : So which one tafseer will you recommend? He said that any answer to this question will lead to debate but people persisted. At that time he gave his choice - tafseer by Maulana Sahabbir Ahmed Uthmani. I suppose it should be available in English too for it is old enough and popular enough. But if you know Urdu then so much better. This used to be beautifully printed, in Urdu, by Saudi Qur'an Printing Complex till our dear friends managed to convince the authorities to do otherwise. It has been replaced by Urdu Tafseer of Maulana Junagarhi - I do not find that a distasteful tafseer but nothing like the earlier mentioned. Of course I have not read it full.

I too love In the Shade of Qur'an. Only lately I have managed to get some idea of what is wrong with Syed Qutb. Answer is nothing - he is perfectly alright, only he was living in very extreme times and he responded to them as a believer should. We do face extreme situations sometimes and some where. In some locations we are still doing that but not all of us. But if you have read In the Shade of Qur'an then the natural thing next is to get down to brass tacks. We got to be there out in the sun ploughing the field.

I am dragging the post because for last few days I have been getting the idea that I should finally start reading Ma'arif-ul-Qur'n by Mufti Shafi Sahab (RA) that I bought long back. That is the tafseer which gets most attention here at SF. I find it strange that brothers here suggest this to any new comer - sorry no one should suggest an eight volume tome to a first timer. Even Abdullah Yusuf Ali is bit lengthy for such people - a translation is sufficient for them.

I did have Maulana Maududi's Tafheem, in six volumes, but I got scared and I gave it to an institute belonging to Jama'at-e-Islami!

O sorry, I should recommend some thing, right? Well Dr Israr Ahmed is my answer. Most of the videos are there on YT. These are in Urdu. I wonder if English text is available.

(A few days back Dr Nadir Khan Sahan (DB), an elder I love, said that when the thing get stuck it is Bayan-ul-Qur'an, of Hazrat Thanwi(RA), that sorts out the things. I heard it is a difficult one so I have never turned my attention to it.)

I hooope I have said something useful.

I have a habit of referring to both ibn Abbas and Tasturi when I look up something .
Don't know much about Tafseer , what are the views on these two from everyone.

Of course Abdullah ibn Abbas is without question blessed by the Prophet . As I understand from my
scattered and limited knowledge there are views disputing the source / authorship of ibn Abbas

[first_pr]

The purpose of describing the beauties and virtues of
the Holy Qur'an in the foregoing pages is to cultivate a love
for it. Love for the Holy Qur'an is needed for developing a
love for Almighty Allah, and vice versa. Love for one leads
to love for the other.
The creation of man in this world is only for the purpose
of acquiring a realization of Allah, and all other creation
is for the sake of man. As a Persian poet says:
The clouds, the winds, the moon, the sun and the sky
are constantly at work,
So that $ou earn your living and do not eat in forgetfulness
The whole creation is involved in working for you in
obedience,
The law of justice will not be fulfilled if you fail to
obey (Allah).
So man should l6arn a lesson from their punctuality
and obedience ,in their functions of rendering service to
him.
Sometimes, as a warning, temporary changes are
caused in their functions by Almighty Allah. There is no
rain when it should rain; no wind blows when it should
blow; similar changes are wrought in the moon and the sun
through their eclipses. In short, everything is subject to
some change for admonishing those who neglect their duty
to their Creator. How astonishing indeed that all these
things be made subservient to fulful man's needs, yet their
obedience does not lead man to his own submission to the
Creator. Love alone provides the best help for obedience
and submission to Almighty Allah.
Verily, the lover submits to his beloved.
When a person falls in love with someone, submission
and obedience to the beloved becomes his habit and
second nature. Disobedience to the beloved becomes as
hard as it unwilling obedience to one whom one does not
love.
One way of developing love for someone is the observation
of his beauty and excellence. This observation may
be through the physical senses or through inner perception.
If a look at a beautiful face can lead to spontaneous love, a
sweet heart-captivating voice can also sometimes produce a
L magnetic effect. A Persian poet says:
Looks alone do not inspire love;
Often this wealth is attained through charming words.
Sometimes it is the sweetness of voice which draws
the heart unconsciously and sometimes it is the beauty and
wisdom of expression which causes one to fall in love. Experienced
men have suggested that in order to develop
love, one should dwell upon the fine attributes of the beloved,
and none other than the beloved should find a place
in one's heart. It is true even in the case of earthly love that
the sight of a beautiful face cr a hand urges one to see the
, other parts of the body of the beloved, so that love may in- crease and the yearning of the heart may be satisfied, but
the stage of satisfaction is never reached. As an Urdu poet
r says:
Marz badta gaya joon joon dawa kii
The disease worsened as the treatment progressed. Taken from Fazail-e-A'amaal.

[Soulofpostar]

Let's pay some attention to this thread now which is almost forgotten in Ramadhaan-The month of Holy Qur'aan.