Translations of Tafsirs by Mūsā Iznikī and the Authenticity of the Tafsir Attributed to Surūrī

Murat Kaya

Article Details

Translations of Tafsirs by Mūsā Iznikī and the Authenticity of the Tafsir Attributed to Surūrī

Authors:

Murat Kaya

Publisher:

Sivas Cumhuriyet University

Main Topics:

Tefsir

Journal:

Cumhuriyet İlahiyat Dergisi Vol.28 Issue 1, pp.449-466

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

6/2024

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001319240

pISSN:

2528-9861

Keywords:

Abstract:

 It is seen that serious mistakes were made in determining the names, authors, and translators of many scientific works written in the past and mostly remained in manuscript form in our libraries. This situation does not allow us properly to benefit from our important scholarly collections by preventing some significant works from being explored. In this context, some research and library records indicate that the 15th-century Ottoman scholar Mūsā Iznikī d. 8381434-35 ? translated Ali b. Muhammad al-Khāzins d. 7411341 work called as Lubāb al-tawīl fī meʻān al-Tanzīl. Similarly, it is claimed that the 16th-century Ottoman scholar and court poet Muslihuddin Mustafa Surūrī d. 9691562 wrote a complete Turkish tafsir. These two claims share a common point as they eventually converge on the same translator. This article aims to investigate the originals and translations of these two works to determine their actual authors and titles. The urgent need for such research for thousands of works in our libraries is apparent, as some researchers have based their masters and doctoral theses and various articles on incorrect information. This article aims to contribute to the academic world by presenting new findings on the two works, which are clouded by incorrect information and uncertainties, and to draw attention to the need for further research in this field. This research, which utilized document scanning, data collection, and data analysis techniques, has led to the following conclusions: The work that Mūsā al-Iznikī translated and named Tafsīr al-Lubāb is actually an abridged version of Baḥr al-ḥaḳāik wa al-meʻānī, a tafsir by Najm al-Dīn Dāya d. 6541256, not Khāzins Lubāb al-tawīl. It has also been determined that the work known today as Tawilat al-Najmiyya is not the original tafsir written by Dāye. Dāye wrote a detailed tafsir combining exoteric and esoteric interpretations, and his disciple Shams al-Din Muhammad al-Sawji abridged this work by removing the exoteric interpretations, leaving only the esoteric. Iznikī translated this abridged version and named it Tafsīr al-Lubāb. The tafsir attributed to Surūrī has been found not to have been authored by him. Comparisons have revealed that this work is a tafsir translation of Abū al-Lays Samarqandīs d. 373983 work named as Tafsir al-Quran al-Karīm or Tafsir Abū al-Layth al-Samarqandī, known today as Bahr al-Ulum. This translation is attributed in some sources and library records simultaneously to Ahmad Dāī d. after 8241421, Ibn ʻArabshah d. 8541450, and Iznikī. When comparing copies attributed to different people, it is apparent that they are all the same work. Examination of certain ancient copies and manuscript records indicates that this translation was also done by Iznikī, who named this second translation Anfas al-Jawāhir. There has been confusion in the academic world regarding this name, with some researchers mistakenly believing it was the name given to Khāzins translation. However, early manuscripts clearly show that this name was given to the translation of Samarqandīs tafsir. Abridged copies of Anfas al-Jawāhir have been found in our libraries, but it has not been possible to determine who performed this abridgment.

 It is seen that serious mistakes were made in determining the names, authors, and translators of many scientific works written in the past and mostly remained in manuscript form in our libraries. This situation does not allow us properly to benefit from our important scholarly collections by preventing some significant works from being explored. In this context, some research and library records indicate that the 15th-century Ottoman scholar Mūsā Iznikī d. 8381434-35 ? translated Ali b. Muhammad al-Khāzins d. 7411341 work called as Lubāb al-tawīl fī meʻān al-Tanzīl. Similarly, it is claimed that the 16th-century Ottoman scholar and court poet Muslihuddin Mustafa Surūrī d. 9691562 wrote a complete Turkish tafsir. These two claims share a common point as they eventually converge on the same translator. This article aims to investigate the originals and translations of these two works to determine their actual authors and titles. The urgent need for such research for thousands of works in our libraries is apparent, as some researchers have based their masters and doctoral theses and various articles on incorrect information. This article aims to contribute to the academic world by presenting new findings on the two works, which are clouded by incorrect information and uncertainties, and to draw attention to the need for further research in this field. This research, which utilized document scanning, data collection, and data analysis techniques, has led to the following conclusions: The work that Mūsā al-Iznikī translated and named Tafsīr al-Lubāb is actually an abridged version of Baḥr al-ḥaḳāik wa al-meʻānī, a tafsir by Najm al-Dīn Dāya d. 6541256, not Khāzins Lubāb al-tawīl. It has also been determined that the work known today as Tawilat al-Najmiyya is not the original tafsir written by Dāye. Dāye wrote a detailed tafsir combining exoteric and esoteric interpretations, and his disciple Shams al-Din Muhammad al-Sawji abridged this work by removing the exoteric interpretations, leaving only the esoteric. Iznikī translated this abridged version and named it Tafsīr al-Lubāb. The tafsir attributed to Surūrī has been found not to have been authored by him. Comparisons have revealed that this work is a tafsir translation of Abū al-Lays Samarqandīs d. 373983 work named as Tafsir al-Quran al-Karīm or Tafsir Abū al-Layth al-Samarqandī, known today as Bahr al-Ulum. This translation is attributed in some sources and library records simultaneously to Ahmad Dāī d. after 8241421, Ibn ʻArabshah d. 8541450, and Iznikī. When comparing copies attributed to different people, it is apparent that they are all the same work. Examination of certain ancient copies and manuscript records indicates that this translation was also done by Iznikī, who named this second translation Anfas al-Jawāhir. There has been confusion in the academic world regarding this name, with some researchers mistakenly believing it was the name given to Khāzins translation. However, early manuscripts clearly show that this name was given to the translation of Samarqandīs tafsir. Abridged copies of Anfas al-Jawāhir have been found in our libraries, but it has not been possible to determine who performed this abridgment.

 It is seen that serious mistakes were made in determining the names, authors, and translators of many scientific works written in the past and mostly remained in manuscript form in our libraries. This situation does not allow us properly to benefit from our important scholarly collections by preventing some significant works from being explored. In this context, some research and library records indicate that the 15th-century Ottoman scholar Mūsā Iznikī d. 8381434-35 ? translated Ali b. Muhammad al-Khāzins d. 7411341 work called as Lubāb al-tawīl fī meʻān al-Tanzīl. Similarly, it is claimed that the 16th-century Ottoman scholar and court poet Muslihuddin Mustafa Surūrī d. 9691562 wrote a complete Turkish tafsir. These two claims share a common point as they eventually converge on the same translator. This article aims to investigate the originals and translations of these two works to determine their actual authors and titles. The urgent need for such research for thousands of works in our libraries is apparent, as some researchers have based their masters and doctoral theses and various articles on incorrect information. This article aims to contribute to the academic world by presenting new findings on the two works, which are clouded by incorrect information and uncertainties, and to draw attention to the need for further research in this field. This research, which utilized document scanning, data collection, and data analysis techniques, has led to the following conclusions: The work that Mūsā al-Iznikī translated and named Tafsīr al-Lubāb is actually an abridged version of Baḥr al-ḥaḳāik wa al-meʻānī, a tafsir by Najm al-Dīn Dāya d. 6541256, not Khāzins Lubāb al-tawīl. It has also been determined that the work known today as Tawilat al-Najmiyya is not the original tafsir written by Dāye. Dāye wrote a detailed tafsir combining exoteric and esoteric interpretations, and his disciple Shams al-Din Muhammad al-Sawji abridged this work by removing the exoteric interpretations, leaving only the esoteric. Iznikī translated this abridged version and named it Tafsīr al-Lubāb. The tafsir attributed to Surūrī has been found not to have been authored by him. Comparisons have revealed that this work is a tafsir translation of Abū al-Lays Samarqandīs d. 373983 work named as Tafsir al-Quran al-Karīm or Tafsir Abū al-Layth al-Samarqandī, known today as Bahr al-Ulum. This translation is attributed in some sources and library records simultaneously to Ahmad Dāī d. after 8241421, Ibn ʻArabshah d. 8541450, and Iznikī. When comparing copies attributed to different people, it is apparent that they are all the same work. Examination of certain ancient copies and manuscript records indicates that this translation was also done by Iznikī, who named this second translation Anfas al-Jawāhir. There has been confusion in the academic world regarding this name, with some researchers mistakenly believing it was the name given to Khāzins translation. However, early manuscripts clearly show that this name was given to the translation of Samarqandīs tafsir. Abridged copies of Anfas al-Jawāhir have been found in our libraries, but it has not been possible to determine who performed this abridgment.

 Geçmişte yazılan ve kütüphanelerimizde çoğu yazma hâlinde duran pek çok ilmî eserin isim, müellif ve mütercimlerinin tespiti konusunda ciddî hatalar yapıldığı görülmektedir. Bu da bir kısım önemli eserlerin gün yüzüne çıkmasını engelleyerek sahip olduğumuz hazineden gereği gibi istifade etme imkânını elimizden almaktadır. Bu minvalde bazı araştırma ve kütüphane kayıtlarında 15. yüzyıl Osmanlı âlimlerinden Mûsâ İznikīnin öl. 8381434-35 ?, Ali b. Muhammed el-Hâzinin öl. 7411341 Lübâbüt-teʾvîl fî meʿânit-Tenzîl adlı tefsirini tercüme ettiği bilgisi yer almıştır. Aynı şekilde yine 16. Yüzyılda yaşamış bir Osmanlı âlimi ve divan şâiri olan Muslihuddin Mustafa Sürûrînin öl. 9691562 tam bir Türkçe tefsir yazdığı iddia edilmektedir. Bu iki iddia, sonuçta aynı mütercim üzerinde birleşmeleri sebebiyle ortak bir noktaya sahiptirler. Bu makalede, bahsedilen iki eserin asılları ve tercümeleri etrafında bir araştırma yapılarak bunların gerçekte kime ait oldukları ve isimlerinin ne olduğu ortaya çıkarılmaya çalışılacaktır. Bu tür araştırmaların kütüphanelerimizdeki binlerce eser için âcilen yapılmasının bir zaruret hâlini aldığı âşikârdır. Zira bazı araştırmacıların bu tür yanlış bilgiler üzerine yüksek lisans ve doktora tezleri binâ ettikleri ve çeşitli makaleler yazdıkları görülmektedir. Bu makalenin maksadı, yukarıda zikredilen ve haklarında yanlış bilgiler ile bazı kapalı noktalar bulunan iki eserle ilgili bir takım yeni tespitleri ortaya koyarak hem ilim dünyasına katkıda bulunmak hem de bu alanda yapılacak çalışmalara olan ihtiyaca dikkat çekmektir. Doküman tarama, veri toplama ve veri analizi yöntemi kullanılan bu araştırma neticesinde şu sonuçlara varılmıştır: Mûsâ el-İznikīnin tercüme ederek Tefsîrul-Lübâb ismini verdiği eser aslında Hâzinin Lübâbüt-tevîli değil Necmeddîn-i Dâyenin öl. 6541256 Baḥrül-ḥaḳāʾiḳ vel-meʿânî isimli tefsirinin muhtasarıdır. Bundan hareketle tespit edilen diğer bir nokta da şu olmuştur ki günümüzde et-Teʾvîlâtün-Necmiyye ismiyle meşhur olan eser Dâyenin kaleme aldığı tefsirin orijinal hâli değildir. Dâye zâhiri ve işârî tefsîri cem eden mufassal bir tefsir telif etmiş, müridlerinden biri olan Şemseddin Muhammed es-Savcı da, zâhirî tefsir kısımlarını çıkarıp sadece işârî yorumları bırakmak sûretiyle bu eseri telhis etmiştir. İznikī de işte bu telhisi tercüme etmiş ve eserine Tefsîrul-Lübâb ismini vermiştir. Sürûrîye nispet edilen tefsirin de onun tarafından telif edilmediği tespit edilmiştir. Yapılan mukayeseler neticesinde bu eserin Ebül-Leys Semerkandînin öl. 373983 Tefsîrül-Ḳurʾânil-Kerîm veya Tefsîru Ebil-Leys es-Semerḳandî diye anılan ve bugün Baḥrül-ʿulûm ismiyle basılan kitabının tefsîrî bir tercümesi olduğu ortaya çıkmıştır. Bu tercüme bazı kaynaklar ile kütüphane kayıtlarında aynı anda hem Ahmed-i Dâîye öl. 8241421den sonra, hem İbn Arabşaha öl. 8541450 ve hem de İznikīye nispet edilmektedir. Farklı kişilere nispet edilen nüshalar karşılaştırıldığında hepsinin aynı eser olduğu görülmüştür. Bazı kadîm nüshalarda görülen ferağ kayıtları ile yazma nüshalar üzerinde yapılan incelemeler bu tercümenin de yine İznikī tarafından yapıldığını göstermektedir. İznikī bu ikinci tercümesine Enfesül-Cevâhir ismini vermiştir. İlim dünyasında bu isim konusunda da bir karışıklık olmuş, bazı araştırmacılar onun Hâzin tefsirinin tercümesine verildiğini zannetmişlerdir. Ancak ilk devir yazmalarında bu ismin Semerkandî tefsirinin tercümesine verildiği açıkça görülmektedir. Kütüphanelerimizde Enfesül-Cevâhirin muhtasar nüshalarına da rastlanmış ancak bu ihtisar faaliyetinin kimin tarafından yapıldığı tespit edilememiştir.

Article Details

Translations of Tafsirs by Mūsā Iznikī and the Authenticity of the Tafsir Attributed to Surūrī

Authors:

Murat Kaya

Publisher:

Sivas Cumhuriyet University

Main Topics:

Tefsir

Journal:

Cumhuriyet İlahiyat Dergisi Vol.28 Issue 1, pp.449-466

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

6/2024

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001319240

pISSN:

2528-9861

Tafsir

Abū al-Lays Samarqandī

Najm al-Dīn Dāya

Khāzin al-Baghdādī

Mūsā Iznikī

Surūrī

Tafsīr al-Lubāb

Anfas al-JawāhirTefsir

Ebü’l-Leys Semerkandî

Necmeddîn-i Dâye

Hâzin-i Bağdâdî

Mûsâ İznikī

Sürûrî

Tefsîru’l-Lübâb

Enfesü’l-Cevâhir

Issues

Article Details

Authors: Murat Kaya

Publisher: Sivas Cumhuriyet University

Main Topics: Tefsir

Journal: Cumhuriyet İlahiyat Dergisi Vol.28 Issue 1, pp.449-466

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 6/2024

Document Language: Turkish

Document ID (Org No.): 2001319240

pISSN: 2528-9861

Issues

Authors:

Murat Kaya

Publisher:

Sivas Cumhuriyet University

Main Topics:

Tefsir

Journal:

Cumhuriyet İlahiyat Dergisi Vol.28 Issue 1, pp.449-466

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

6/2024

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001319240

pISSN:

2528-9861