Chapter 4: Dr. Isrār Aḥmad as Mufassir-E-Qur’ān

Characteristics of Bayān-Al-Qur’ān

            “Bayān al-Qur’ān” in the series of services towards the Qur’ān by Dr. Isrār Aḥmad (d:1431A. H/2010A. D) has an important standing. He had been presenting the translation besides brief explanation of the Qur’ān during Ṣalāt-e-Tarāvīh since 1984A. D; this series of daura-e-Tarjuma (translation) was liked world-wide.

            The task of publishing daura Tarjuma-e-Qur’ān(held in 1998A. D inQur’ān Academy, Karāchī) in a book form had commenced in the life-time of Dr. Isrār Aḥmad. This important assignment was taken on by Anjuman Khuddām al-Qur’ān, Khyber Pakhtūnkhwāh, Peshāwar; so far, five volumes of Bayān al-Qur’ān upto Surah al-sajadah have been published.

            Dr. Isrār Aḥmad’s Tarjuma-e-Qur’ān comprising a brief translation and explanation in the form of Bayān al-Qur’ān has the following peculiarities:-

1. He presents the points of explanation (Tafsīr) in a very simple but convincing way for the audience which is easy as well as understandable. While explaining the ‘Split Alphabets’(ḥarūf-e-Muqatti‘āt) with refernce to the first Āyah of Surah al-baqarah, he writes:

            “These are the split words; suffice to know that no one knows the real and specific meaning of these with certainty except Allāh and His prophet(SAWS). This is a mystery resting between Allāh and the prophet(SAWS). Many explanations have come up but none of these is attributable or endorsed by the prophet(SAWS). However, it is known that the use of such split-words was common in poetic expression of the Arabs, hence they never raised a finger about the same. Out of 114 Suwar-e-Mubārakah (chapters) in the Qur’ān, 29 begin with such alphabets (ḥurūf-e-muqatti‘āt). ” [1]

            Dr. Isrār made use of simple words to explain even the complex issues so that the audience follow the message of the...