علم تفسیر میں قراءت قرآنیہ سے استفادہ کے اصول

Principles and Methodologies for Incorporating Quranic Qira’at into Tafseer Studies

Abstract

The science of Tafseer focuses on the explanation and interpretation of the Holy Quran. From the early Islamic centuries to the present era, scholars have authored thousands of Quranic commentaries. In this scholarly endeavor, the knowledge of Qira’at Qur’aniyyah (Quranic readings) holds significant importance, much like other auxiliary sciences. The science of Qira’at extensively discusses the various modes of Quranic recitation, which serve as a fundamental source for all Islamic sciences. Whether they are Mutawatir or Shaadh readings, Qira’at play a crucial role in disciplines such as grammar (Nahw), morphology (Sarf), rhetoric (Balaghah), and lexicography (Lughat). In reality, Qira’at represent a vast ocean from which streams of Islamic and Arabic sciences emerge. These readings are akin to an eternal tree, from which the branches of Islamic knowledge continue to grow. Thus, it can rightly be said that Quranic readings have played a pivotal role in the evolution and development of all Islamic sciences. Particularly in the domain of Tafseer, Qira’at hold foundational importance, as they help in comprehending the meanings and implications of Quranic verses. Different readings often provide varying shades of meaning, allowing scholars to prefer one interpretation over another based on linguistic, contextual, or juristic considerations. Consequently, Quranic readings not only enrich the interpretive process but also highlight the scholarly diversity in understanding divine revelation, as reflected in the differing approaches of classical Mufassirun (exegetes) and Fuqaha (jurists).