The Tafsir Methodology of the Indian Scholar Shah Abdulaziz Dehlawi

Enayatullah Azimi; Fatih Tok

Article Details

The Tafsir Methodology of the Indian Scholar Shah Abdulaziz Dehlawi

Authors:

Enayatullah Azimi | Fatih Tok

Publisher:

Eskişehir Osmangazi University

Main Topics:

Tefsir

Journal:

Eskişehir Osmangazi Üniversitesi İlahiyat Fakültesi Dergisi Vol.12 Issue 1, pp.163-185

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

3/2025

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2001341581

pISSN:

2147-8171

Keywords:

Abstract:

 This article examines the tafsir work and tafsir methodology of Abdulaziz Dehlawi, one of the prominent Islamic scholars of 18th-century India. Born in Delhi, Dehlawi in Islamic sciences, particularly in the fields of tafsir, hadith, and fiqh, and authored notable works in these disciplines. Acknowledged as a leading scholar in both India and the broader Islamic world, he played a crucial role in the dissemination and preservation of Islamic knowledge. Dehlawis approach to tafsir is characterized by a balanced use of both the narrational riwayah and rational dirayah methods. While prominently employing the method of interpreting the Quran through the Quran in his exegesis, he aimed to present a comprehensive interpretation by combining narrational and rational elements. This approach relies on the explanations of the Prophet, as well as the views of the Sahabah and Tabiun, while also incorporating the exegetes intellectual and ijtihadi capacities. Dehlawi emphasized the importance of interpreting the Quran with hadith, highlighting that using prophetic traditions to explain Quranic verses enriches and deepens their meaning. Furthermore, he incorporated ijtihadi interpretations into his tafsir. Therefore, his methodology stands out as one that harmonizes narrational and rational approaches. It would be an incomplete assessment to categorize his tafsir solely as narrational. Dehlawi also included the views of the Sahabah and Tabiun in his tafsir, which reflect how the Quran was understood and practiced by the earliest generations. This underscores the strong narrational dimension of his exegesis. Additionally, Dehlawi engaged with the sciences of Quranic recitation and utilized them in his tafsir, demonstrating how variations in recitation affect the meanings of verses. The rational method in his tafsir involves the use of intellect, linguistic knowledge, and analogy to deepen the understanding of Quranic verses. This methodology places great emphasis on linguistic and contextual factors, such as the subtleties of the Arabic language, rules of morphology sarf and syntax nahw, lexical meanings, and the occasions of revelation asbab al-nuzul. By highlighting the importance of linguistic sciences, particularly morphology and syntax, Dehlawi emphasized the critical role of language in understanding Quranic verses. The concept of munasabat al-Quran occupies a significant place in Dehlawis understanding of the Quran. He believed in the strong interconnection and consistency among the surahs and verses of the Quran and elaborated on these relationships in his tafsir. This approach effectively demonstrates the unity of the Quran and the semantic links between its verses. Topics such as abrogation, occasions of revelation, and interrelations among verses are key elements that add depth to Dehlawis tafsir. In addition to explaining the text of the Quran, Dehlawi aimed to convey the fundamental teachings of Islam and the spirit of the Quran to the readers. By categorizing surahs according to their themes and identifying the main theme of each surah, he facilitated a more systematic understanding of the Quran for his audience. This feature highlights the didactic dimension of his tafsir. Dehlawis tafsir significantly contributes to the exegetical tradition as a work that deepens the interpretative world of the Quran and reveals the richness of Islamic sciences. His interpretative methodology, which integrates narrational and rational methods in a balanced manner, both traditional and analytical approaches in understanding the Quran. Dehlawis works continue to serve as a guiding reference for approaching the Quran not only in his time but also in contemporary exegetical studies, preserving their value as an enduring legacy in the field of tafsir.

 This article examines the tafsir work and tafsir methodology of Abdulaziz Dehlawi, one of the prominent Islamic scholars of 18th-century India. Born in Delhi, Dehlawi in Islamic sciences, particularly in the fields of tafsir, hadith, and fiqh, and authored notable works in these disciplines. Acknowledged as a leading scholar in both India and the broader Islamic world, he played a crucial role in the dissemination and preservation of Islamic knowledge. Dehlawis approach to tafsir is characterized by a balanced use of both the narrational riwayah and rational dirayah methods. While prominently employing the method of interpreting the Quran through the Quran in his exegesis, he aimed to present a comprehensive interpretation by combining narrational and rational elements. This approach relies on the explanations of the Prophet, as well as the views of the Sahabah and Tabiun, while also incorporating the exegetes intellectual and ijtihadi capacities. Dehlawi emphasized the importance of interpreting the Quran with hadith, highlighting that using prophetic traditions to explain Quranic verses enriches and deepens their meaning. Furthermore, he incorporated ijtihadi interpretations into his tafsir. Therefore, his methodology stands out as one that harmonizes narrational and rational approaches. It would be an incomplete assessment to categorize his tafsir solely as narrational. Dehlawi also included the views of the Sahabah and Tabiun in his tafsir, which reflect how the Quran was understood and practiced by the earliest generations. This underscores the strong narrational dimension of his exegesis. Additionally, Dehlawi engaged with the sciences of Quranic recitation and utilized them in his tafsir, demonstrating how variations in recitation affect the meanings of verses. The rational method in his tafsir involves the use of intellect, linguistic knowledge, and analogy to deepen the understanding of Quranic verses. This methodology places great emphasis on linguistic and contextual factors, such as the subtleties of the Arabic language, rules of morphology sarf and syntax nahw, lexical meanings, and the occasions of revelation asbab al-nuzul. By highlighting the importance of linguistic sciences, particularly morphology and syntax, Dehlawi emphasized the critical role of language in understanding Quranic verses. The concept of munasabat al-Quran occupies a significant place in Dehlawis understanding of the Quran. He believed in the strong interconnection and consistency among the surahs and verses of the Quran and elaborated on these relationships in his tafsir. This approach effectively demonstrates the unity of the Quran and the semantic links between its verses. Topics such as abrogation, occasions of revelation, and interrelations among verses are key elements that add depth to Dehlawis tafsir. In addition to explaining the text of the Quran, Dehlawi aimed to convey the fundamental teachings of Islam and the spirit of the Quran to the readers. By categorizing surahs according to their themes and identifying the main theme of each surah, he facilitated a more systematic understanding of the Quran for his audience. This feature highlights the didactic dimension of his tafsir. Dehlawis tafsir significantly contributes to the exegetical tradition as a work that deepens the interpretative world of the Quran and reveals the richness of Islamic sciences. His interpretative methodology, which integrates narrational and rational methods in a balanced manner, both traditional and analytical approaches in understanding the Quran. Dehlawis works continue to serve as a guiding reference for approaching the Quran not only in his time but also in contemporary exegetical studies, preserving their value as an enduring legacy in the field of tafsir.

 This article examines the tafsir work and tafsir methodology of Abdulaziz Dehlawi, one of the prominent Islamic scholars of 18th-century India. Born in Delhi, Dehlawi in Islamic sciences, particularly in the fields of tafsir, hadith, and fiqh, and authored notable works in these disciplines. Acknowledged as a leading scholar in both India and the broader Islamic world, he played a crucial role in the dissemination and preservation of Islamic knowledge. Dehlawis approach to tafsir is characterized by a balanced use of both the narrational riwayah and rational dirayah methods. While prominently employing the method of interpreting the Quran through the Quran in his exegesis, he aimed to present a comprehensive interpretation by combining narrational and rational elements. This approach relies on the explanations of the Prophet, as well as the views of the Sahabah and Tabiun, while also incorporating the exegetes intellectual and ijtihadi capacities. Dehlawi emphasized the importance of interpreting the Quran with hadith, highlighting that using prophetic traditions to explain Quranic verses enriches and deepens their meaning. Furthermore, he incorporated ijtihadi interpretations into his tafsir. Therefore, his methodology stands out as one that harmonizes narrational and rational approaches. It would be an incomplete assessment to categorize his tafsir solely as narrational. Dehlawi also included the views of the Sahabah and Tabiun in his tafsir, which reflect how the Quran was understood and practiced by the earliest generations. This underscores the strong narrational dimension of his exegesis. Additionally, Dehlawi engaged with the sciences of Quranic recitation and utilized them in his tafsir, demonstrating how variations in recitation affect the meanings of verses. The rational method in his tafsir involves the use of intellect, linguistic knowledge, and analogy to deepen the understanding of Quranic verses. This methodology places great emphasis on linguistic and contextual factors, such as the subtleties of the Arabic language, rules of morphology sarf and syntax nahw, lexical meanings, and the occasions of revelation asbab al-nuzul. By highlighting the importance of linguistic sciences, particularly morphology and syntax, Dehlawi emphasized the critical role of language in understanding Quranic verses. The concept of munasabat al-Quran occupies a significant place in Dehlawis understanding of the Quran. He believed in the strong interconnection and consistency among the surahs and verses of the Quran and elaborated on these relationships in his tafsir. This approach effectively demonstrates the unity of the Quran and the semantic links between its verses. Topics such as abrogation, occasions of revelation, and interrelations among verses are key elements that add depth to Dehlawis tafsir. In addition to explaining the text of the Quran, Dehlawi aimed to convey the fundamental teachings of Islam and the spirit of the Quran to the readers. By categorizing surahs according to their themes and identifying the main theme of each surah, he facilitated a more systematic understanding of the Quran for his audience. This feature highlights the didactic dimension of his tafsir. Dehlawis tafsir significantly contributes to the exegetical tradition as a work that deepens the interpretative world of the Quran and reveals the richness of Islamic sciences. His interpretative methodology, which integrates narrational and rational methods in a balanced manner, both traditional and analytical approaches in understanding the Quran. Dehlawis works continue to serve as a guiding reference for approaching the Quran not only in his time but also in contemporary exegetical studies, preserving their value as an enduring legacy in the field of tafsir.

 Bu makale, 18. yüzyıl Hindistanın önemli İslam alimlerinden Abdülazîz Dihlevînin tefsir eserini ve yorum metodolojisini incelemektedir. Abdülazîz Dihlevî, Delhide doğmuş, İslamî ilimlerde bilgi sahibi olmuş ve özellikle tefsir, hadis ve fıkıh alanlarında önemli eserler vermiştir. Hem Hindistanda hem de İslam dünyasında tanınan bir alim olarak, İslamî ilimlerin yayılmasında ve korunmasında önemli bir rol oynamıştır. Abdülazîzin tefsir yaklaşımı, rivayet ve dirayet metotlarının dengeli bir şekilde kullanımını esas almaktadır. Dihlevî, tefsirinde Kuranın Kuran ile tefsiri metodunu belirgin bir şekilde öne çıkarmakla birlikte, rivayet ve dirayet unsurlarını beraber kullanarak kapsamlı bir yorum sunmayı amaçlamıştır. Bu yaklaşım, Peygamberimizin açıklamaları ve sahabe ile tâbiîn görüşlerine dayanmakla birlikte, müfessirin aklî ve içtihadî yetkinliğini de devreye sokmaktadır. Kuranı hadis ile tefsir etme yöntemini önemseyen Dihlevî, Kuranın hadislerle açıklanmasının, ayetlerin anlamını derinleştiren ve zenginleştiren bir kaynak olduğunu vurgulamıştır. Öte yandan Abdülazîz tefsirinde içtihadî yorumlara da yer vermiştir. Bu nedenle Dihlevînin tefsir yaklaşımı, rivayet ve dirayeti harmanlayarak dengeyi gözeten bir metot olarak öne çıkmaktadır. Onu tamamen rivayet tefsiri kategorisine yerleştirmek eksik bir değerlendirme olacaktır. Dihlevî, tefsirinde sahâbe ve tâbiîn kavillerine de yer vermektedir. Bu dönemlerin görüşleri, Kuranın ilk nesiller tarafından nasıl anlaşıldığını ve uygulandığını göstermektedir. Bu yöntem, Dihlevînin tefsirindeki rivayet boyutunun ne kadar güçlü olduğunu ortaya koymaktadır. Dihlevî, ayrıca kıraat ilimleriyle ilgilenmiş ve bu ilimleri tefsirinde kullanarak farklı kıraatlerin ayetlerin anlamlarını nasıl etkilediğini de göstermiştir. Dirayet metodu ise, Dihlevînin akıl, dil bilgisi ve kıyas gibi unsurları kullanarak ayetlerin anlamını derinleştirdiği bir yaklaşımı ifade etmektedir. Bu metodolojide, Arap dilinin incelikleri, sarf ve nahiv kuralları, kelime anlamları ve ayetlerin nüzul sebepleri gibi dilbilimsel ve bağlamsal faktörler önem taşımaktadır. Dihlevî, tefsirinde özellikle sarf ve nahiv gibi dil ilimlerine vurgu yaparak, dilin ayetlerin anlaşılmasındaki kritik rolünü gözler önüne sermiştir. Münâsebâtül-Kuran, Dihlevînin Kuran anlayışında önemli bir yer tutmaktadır. O, Kuranda sureler ve ayetler arasında güçlü bir bağ ve tutarlılık olduğuna inanmış ve bu ilişkileri tefsirinde detaylandırarak açıklamıştır. Bu yöntem, Kuranın bütünlüğünü ve ayetlerin birbiriyle olan anlam bağlantılarını ortaya koymada etkili olmuştur. Özellikle, nâsih ve mensûh, sebeb-i nüzûl bilgileri ve ayetler arasındaki münasebetler gibi konular, Dihlevînin tefsirine derinlik katan unsurlar olduğunu söyleyebiliriz. Dihlevînin tefsirinde, Kuranın metnini açıklamanın yanı sıra, İslamın temel öğretilerini ve Kuranın ruhunu insanlara aktarma amacı güdülmüştür. Sureleri konularına göre ayırarak her bir surenin ana temasını belirlemesi, okuyucuların Kuranı daha sistematik bir şekilde anlamalarına yardımcı olmaktadır. Bu yaklaşım, tefsirin didaktik yönünü de vurgulayan önemli bir özelliktir. Dihlevînin tefsiri, Kuranın anlam dünyasını derinleştiren ve İslâmî ilimlerdeki zenginliği ortaya koyan bir çalışma olarak, tefsir geleneğine önemli bir katkı sunmaktadır. Onun tefsir metodolojisi, rivayet ve dirayet metotlarının dengeli bir şekilde kullanıldığı, böylece Kuranın anlaşılmasında hem geleneksel hem de analitik yaklaşımların bir araya geldiği bir model oluşturmuştur. Abdülazîzin çalışmaları, sadece kendi döneminde değil, günümüzde de Kurana yaklaşımda rehberlik etmekte ve tefsir sahasında özgün bir miras olarak değerini korumaktadır.

Article Details

The Tafsir Methodology of the Indian Scholar Shah Abdulaziz Dehlawi

Authors:

Enayatullah Azimi | Fatih Tok

Publisher:

Eskişehir Osmangazi University

Main Topics:

Tefsir

Journal:

Eskişehir Osmangazi Üniversitesi İlahiyat Fakültesi Dergisi Vol.12 Issue 1, pp.163-185

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

3/2025

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2001341581

pISSN:

2147-8171

Tafsir

Qur'an

Shah Abdulaziz Dehlawi

Narration

Reasoning

MethodTefsir

Kur’an

Şah Abdülazîz Dihlevî

Rivayet

Dirayet

Yöntem

Issues

Article Details

Authors: Enayatullah Azimi | Fatih Tok

Publisher: Eskişehir Osmangazi University

Main Topics: Tefsir

Journal: Eskişehir Osmangazi Üniversitesi İlahiyat Fakültesi Dergisi Vol.12 Issue 1, pp.163-185

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 3/2025

Document Language: English

Document ID (Org No.): 2001341581

pISSN: 2147-8171

Issues

Authors:

Enayatullah Azimi | Fatih Tok

Publisher:

Eskişehir Osmangazi University

Main Topics:

Tefsir

Journal:

Eskişehir Osmangazi Üniversitesi İlahiyat Fakültesi Dergisi Vol.12 Issue 1, pp.163-185

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

3/2025

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2001341581

pISSN:

2147-8171