Tafseer Usool at-Tafseer

Jalaalud-Deen al-Balqeenee, who identified fifty different types of Qur’aanic
sciences in his book, Mawaaqi‘ al-‘Uloom min Mawaaqi‘ an-Nujoom. In the
same century, Jalaalud-Deen as-Suyootee (d. 911 AH) wrote two books in the
field of ‘uloom al-Qur’aan. He entitled the first, finished in 872 AH, at-Tahbeer
fee ‘Uloom at-Tafseer. It consists of one slim volume, but touches on 102
different fields of Qur’aanic sciences. He later combined and condensed the fields
to 80, which he then elaborated upon in his work, Kitaab al-Itqaan fee ‘Uloom al-
Qur’aan. 13 The latter text became the standard source book in the study of ‘uloom
al-Qur’aan for later generations of scholars.
For the next three centuries the field of ‘uloom al-Qur’aan saw little
development. However in the 20th century, a new flurry of writing began with
Shaykh Taahir al-Jazaa’iree’s 300-page work entitled, at-Tibyaan fee ‘Uloom al-
Qur’aan. 14 In the mid twentieth century, a number of professors at al-Azhar
University wrote concise texts on the subject of ‘uloom al-Qur’aan for their
respective colleges. Some of these were later published. Among the more notable
is Minhaaj al-Furqaan fee ‘Uloom al-Qur’aan 15 written for students in the
College of Da‘wah wal-Irshaad by Shaykh Muhammad ‘Alee Salaamah. 16
Manaahil al-‘Irfaan fee ‘Uloom al-Qur’aan, 17 a two volume work of over 1000
pages was written by Shaykh Muhammad ‘Abdul-‘Atheem az-Zarqaanee, former
lecturer of ‘uloom al-Qur’aan and ‘uloom al-Hadeeth in the College of Islaamic
Disciplines (usool ad-Deen). In the latter part of the 20th century, a number of
excellent works have been written in the field by university professors like
Mabaahith fee ‘Uloom al-Qur’aan by Subhee as-Saalih, Mabaahith fee ‘Uloom
al-Qur’aan by Mannaa‘ al-Qattaan, Madkhal ilaa al-Qur’aan al-Kareem 18 by
Muhammad ‘Abdullaah Daraaz, al-Madkhal li Diraasah al-Qur’aan, 19 by
Muhammad Aboo Shahbah, and Lamahaat fee ‘Uloom al-Qur’aan 20 by Dr.
Muhammad ibn Lutfee as-Sabbaagh.
13 Manaahil al-‘Irfaan fee ‘Uloom al-Qur’aan, pp. 27-30.
14 Published in Egypt by al-Manaar Press in 1915 (1334 AH) under the title, at-Tibyaan li ba‘d al-
Mabaahith al-Muta‘allaqah bil-Qur’aan.
15 Published under the title, Jawaahir al-Bayaan fee ‘Uloom al-Qur’aan.
16 Manaahil al-‘Irfaan fee ‘Uloom al-Qur’aan, p. 31.
17 Published in Egypt by Daar Ihyaa al-Kutub al-‘Arabeeyah, 3rd ed., 1953.
18 Published in Beirut by Daar al-Qalam Press, 1971.
19 Published in Egypt in 1973.
20 Published in Beirut by al-Maktab al-Islaamee, 3rd ed., 1990.