Thursday, August 11, 2016

Understanding Quran With Tafsir

I have finished Al-Quran in Arabic when I was a young kid. But I never have been able to finish Al-Quran with the translation or with Tafsir. I made 2 attempts - once in Bengali and another time in English. But both the times laziness or other priorities diverted me. This time I am thinking I will go with English Tafsir along with the Arabic recitation. For this I picked the list of 114 Surahs from Wikipedia and plan to go one by one - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_surahs_in_the_Quran. For Arabic recitation I will be following the default (1st in drop down) Al-Afasy - http://tanzil.net/#2:1 .

Study Quran


I have the "Study Quran" (https://www.amazon.com/Study-Quran-New-Transl…/…/ref=sr_1_1…) which I plan to consult as and when needed for any of the Surahs if I get stuck. But otherwise I will focus mostly on Sh. Yasir Qadhi's lectures, Ustaz Nouman Alil Khan's lectures, Bengali tafsirs from www.quranerkotha.com (which I find the most extensive and detail). The pace I will go, it will take me approximately 5 years to finish all the 114 Surahs unless Allah guides me and it happens faster! Pray for me. During this time, this post will remain in progress or will be constantly updated as and when I finished the tafsir of each Surah.

The miracles of Quran by Sh Yasir Qadhi - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2S_e1d4hb0

Surah#1: Al-Fatihah

I was following the Hafs Qirayat (which is the most common one amongst the 10 Qirayats of Al-Quran). I followed Sheykh Yasir Qadhi's series - https://www.youtube.com/watch… and Ustaz Nouman Ali Khan's lecture - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igHPJULuxMw. Also a good and detail Tafsir in Bengali I followed is from here - http://quranerkotha.com/surah-fatiha/ .

A few key points to note -

1. Sura # 1 in Al-Quran. Total verses (ayat) # 7. Makki Sura.
2. First complete sura revealed in Al-Quran.
2A. Surah al-Fātiḥah ("the Opening") is also called, Umm Al-Kitab ("the Mother of the Book") and Umm Al-Quran ("the Mother of the Quran"); Sab'a al Mathani ("Seven repeated [verses]"; Al-Hamd ("praise"); Al-Shifa' ("the Cure"); Al-Ruqyah ("remedy" or "spiritual cure") and al-Qasas, "The Foundation".
3. YQ gave ideas about why there is difference of opinion amongst scholars about "Bismillahir Rahman Ir Rahim" being part of Sura Fatiha or not.
4. YQ gave some astonishing numbers about how many times this Sura is recited by a single Muslim per year!
5. NAK gave some beautiful explanations of why certain words have been chosen and in exactly certain orders. He showed what would it sound like if even a single modification is done in any order or word in the Sura (loosing either in meaning, or in impact or in melody).
6. Also a fantastic demonstration from NAK is the balance of the Sura - linguistic, mathematical, meaning wise and even compared to Sura Ikhlas which is the last Sura of Al-Quran.

7. A short explanaion related to hadiths about Surah Fatiha by NAK - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8I6BZQED7E

Surah#2: Al-Baqarah

Quick overview by Sh. Yasir Qadhi - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3a7a55bEFho

Most detail tafsir in Bengali - http://quranerkotha.com/category/%e0%a6%ac%e0%a6%be%e0%a6%95%e0%a6%be%e0%a6%b0%e0%a6%be%e0%a6%b9/

Nouman Ali Khan's short tafsirs (one-third verses are missing) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIBoiUMdfV0&list=PL5qUbRsC8MygbSAQbkaWnY2bokW8_ZAIt

The missing tafsirs from NAK video series are - 88-90, 103-104, 116-121, 133-134, 174-175, 178-188, 194-202, 211-212

From Ayat 229 onwards, you will have to follow this link -
A few key points to note -
  1. Sura Baqarah is the largest sura in Quran. Total ayats 286.
  2. It was revealed over 9 years from early Medina till the very end.

(In Progress.....)

Tuesday, July 12, 2016

Translation of Quran is not Quran itself

While it is possible to translate the Arabic text of the Quran into other languages, Muslims generally consider translations to be interpretations and not the Quran itself. Since translation can change meanings and complexities that are found in the original and fails to transmit the aesthetic dimensions of the text, it is important to note that no one translation can claim to present the Quran exactly as found in Arabic.

-- From introductory brochure of Islam Through Its Scriptures






It is important for our understanding of the Quran that this text was in its origins, primarily an oral/aural revelation that had to be experienced through the sense of hearing. Indeed even today the majority of the world’s Muslims encounter the Quran on a daily basis through the ear.

-- From that same course of Islam Through Its Scriptures