Sura Bakara Qura'n Tamil Thafseer book release by Usthaz Mansoor Naleemi:
On the eve of Sura Bakara Qura'n Thafeer book release in Colombo on 2/07/2015, I would like to pen down some words about Usthaz Mansoor's contribution to Qura'nic studies in Sri Lanka.
Usthaz Mansoor is a well known Islamic scholar in Sri Lanka. No doubt he is one of best Sri Lankan Islamic scholars, who has been blessed with profound insight into the inner dimension of the Holy Quranic understanding . In the foot step of many modern Islamic scholars in the science of Qura'nic studies, Usthaz Mansoor provides deep and profound interpretation to the verses of the Holy Qura'n. I'm fortunate enough to listen to some of his Thafseer lessons on the last chapter of the holy Qura'n. He explains and interprets the Quranic verses scientifically and methodologically incorporating both classical and modern methods of Quranic interpretations. His Qura'nic interpretation lessons are based on the prophetic traditions, statements of early generation of Islamic scholars and at the same time he alludes to many modern scholars of the Qura'n to relate the Qura'nic meanings to our social realities and conditions.
No doubt Usthaz has been greatly inspired and influenced by the modern Qura'n interpretations given by scholars such as Sayyid Qutub, Maududi and others. yet, he combines both classical and modern interpretation in his lessons of Qura'nic classes. His "Hermeneutics" in the interpretation of Qura'nic Sura are unique. No any Muslim scholar in our part of world has made any attempt to interpret the Quranic texts as Usthaz does, particularity in our mother tongue.
He reads many Thafseer books before he embarks on the interpretation of the divine words of Almighty Allah. This is one of best intellectual traits of Usthaz Mansoor. He tries his best to get most appropriate and relevant explanation to the Quranic verses in light of classical and modern Quranic scholarship. His approach to Qura'nic interpretation is a unique one among Tamil speaking Muslim scholars today. He always tries to convey the core and central theme of each Qura'nic chapter. He inter-relates the cohesiveness of each and every verses of Holy Qura'n . He also highlights the latest developments in the field of Quranic studies such as thematic readings of the Holy Quran.
I think among all Tamil speaking Muslim scholars of Quranic studies, Usthaz Mansoor is blessed with grace of Allah to understand the Qura'n in this comprehensive and cohesive manner. This is indeed, a divine grace upon him. Specially, we, Sri Lankan Muslims live away from Muslim countries which have a lot of Islamic centers to learn Qura'n under some famous Islamic scholars and yet, Usthaz with grace of Allah managed to enhance his knowledge in the Qura'n without learning in any Muslim countries. This is indeed, a special divine Mercy upon him.
It is estimated that Tamil speaking population in the world today is around 70 million. Most of them live in South India. The majority of people among them are Hindus and Christians. it is also estimated there are around 7 million Tamil speaking Muslim people live in countries like India, Sri Lanka, Singapore and Malaysia. Yet, no comprehensive Quranic Thafseer has been written so far in Tamil language. it is true that some Thafseer books have been translated into Tamil language and yet, there is no original Thafseer written in Tamil yet. We have a number of Qura'n translations and yet, these translations are not Qura'nic exegesis. PJ's attempt to write Qura'nic exegesis seems to be partially successful to convey Qura'nic message in plain Tamil to Tamil speaking community yet, his work has been embedded with many controversies. of course JP's Qura'n exegesis may be good for public readership. Tamil speaking Hindus and christian community will be able to read it every easily. Yet, Usthaz Mansoor's Quranic Interpretation is somewhat high quality with some new approaches. To fully comprehend his Qura'nic interpretation one should have a good Islamic background knowledge. I think it is a prerequisite to understand Usthaz Mansoor's works. Without good background Islamic knowledge it would be rather difficult to understand Usthaz' Mansoor's Quranic interpretation.
Usthaz Mansoor Qura'nic exegesis on Sura Bakara is a pioneering Qura'nic interpretation in Tamil language. It is a comprehensive and cohesive interpretation for this Sura. He contends that It is a collection of old and new ideas of Muslim scholars on this Sura. As a prelude to his explanation of this Sura, he provides with a linguistic analysis each and every important word on this Sura. No scholar in Tamil speaking world has done this before him in this field of Qura'nic interpretation. He presents the meanings of this Sura with practical implications for day to day application of divine message. Qura'n is revealed not just for reading alone rather it is revealed for day to day application of its teachings. Usthaz Mansoor describes Muslim community as a community of struggle in light of this Sura. He also highlight the central theme of this Sura in four main points.It is beyond the scope of this appraisal to discuss all these points. Usthaz Mansoor noted that this book is written after consulting more than 8 Quranic exegesis old and modern. He also says that he had consulted many more books on this Sura before he wrote this Tafseer. This tells us the quality of Usthaz Mansoor Thafseer book on Sura Bakara.
Now doubt his book on Sura Bakara will open up a new era in the study of Qura'n among Tamil speaking Muslim community in Indian subcontinent. I hope and pray that this book reaches out Millions Tamil speaking people across the world. May Allah reward him abundantly for this great contribution to Quranic studies in Tamil language. May Allah give him a long life to continue his pursuit of Quranic studies. This book needs a comprehensive and comparative review and appraisal with works of some contemporary Muslim scholars of Quranic studies of our time. I wish I could compare Usthaz Mansoor's this books with works Nouman Ali khan, Dr Ali Mansour kayali and others.
I hope Sri Lankan Muslim community and Tamil speaking Muslim community all over the world benefit from this noble book.
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