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Created page with "{{text start}} {{question}} What are the most important Persian commentaries on the Quran? {{question end}} {{answer}} Over the centuries, from the 4th century onward, many Quran commentaries have been written in Persian. Some of the older commentaries in this field include Tafseer Tabari, Tafseer Rawdat al-Janan, Tafseer Gazer, and Tafseer Sharif Lahiji. In the 14th century, many more commentaries were written in Persian, with the m..."

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What are the most important Persian commentaries on the Quran?
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Over the centuries, from the 4th century onward, many [[Quran commentary|Quran commentaries]] have been written in Persian. Some of the older commentaries in this field include [[Tafseer Tabari]], [[Tafseer Rawdat al-Janan]], [[Tafseer Gazer]], and [[Tafseer Sharif Lahiji]]. In the 14th century, many more commentaries were written in Persian, with the most famous being [[Tafseer Tasneem]], [[Tafseer Rahnama]], [[Tafseer Noor]], and [[Tafseer Namuneh]].

== Semantics ==
{{main|Quran commentary}}
The term [[interpretation]] in its linguistic sense means to unveil or clarify, and the [[Quran]]'s interpretation involves determining and explaining the intended meaning of the words of God. The Quran is a profound book, and understanding it requires explanation and interpretation, one of the sciences associated with it is the science of Quran commentary. The science of interpretation addresses the difficulties in understanding the Quran, and anyone who interprets the Quran is called a "mufassir" (interpreter).<ref>{{cite book|title=Culture of Shiism|year=1385|publisher=Qom, Zamzam Hedayat Publications|page=185}}</ref> [[Quran]] is a deep book that requires explanation to understand its meanings fully, and one of the sciences related to it is the science of Quranic exegesis. This science deals with addressing the Quranic challenges, and anyone who interprets the Quran is called "Mufassir".<ref>{{cite book|title=Religious Encyclopedia|year=1389|author=Javad|last name=Mohaddesi|publisher=Qom, Nashr Ma'roof Publications|page=55}}</ref>

Quranic exegesis can be done in two ways:
# Sequential Commentary: The verses are interpreted in the order they appear in the Quran, whether the entire Quran is interpreted from beginning to end or only certain difficult verses are discussed in this manner.
# Thematic Commentary: Verses related to a particular subject throughout the Quran are collected and interpreted in relation to each other, deriving the Quran's perspective on the subject and its dimensions.<ref>{{cite book|title=History of Quran Interpretation|year=1390|author=Ali Akbar|last name=Babayi|publisher=Qom, Research Institute of the Seminary and University|pages=437-438}}</ref>

== 4th and 5th Centuries ==
* '''Part of an Old Persian Commentary''': This commentary was edited by Sayyid Murtaza Ayatollahzadeh Shirazi (died 1379 CE). It dates back to around the 4th century AH and covers from verse 176 of [[Surah Al-Araf]] to verse 69 of [[Surah An-Nahl]].<ref>Daneshpazhooh, Manoochehr, Selected Persian Exegetical Texts, Allameh Tabataba'i University Press, 1379, p. 43 and 44.</ref>
* '''Translation of Tafseer Tabari''': An ancient commentary translated into Persian, written by a group of scholars from Mawarannahr in the second half of the 4th century. [[Translation of Tafseer Tabari]] is often considered to have a literary value comparable to the Shahnameh of Ferdowsi, though it has remained relatively unknown. This work, while it may not be the first Persian commentary, is one of the earliest official translations of the Quran.<ref>Azarnoush, Azartash, "Translation of Tafseer Tabari," Encyclopedia of the Islamic World, 1393 CE, vol. 7, entry.</ref>
* '''Tafseer Quran Pak''': The author of this commentary is unknown. According to Mojtaba Minavi, who published a photographic copy of this commentary, it is highly likely that it was written before 450 AH.<ref>Daneshpazhooh, Manoochehr, Selected Persian Exegetical Texts, Allameh Tabataba'i University Press, 1379, p. 83.</ref>
* '''A Commentary on the Quranic Decade''': It is said that with the book [[A Commentary on the Quranic Decade]], a significant transformation appeared. The syntactical structures in this book are more aligned with Persian standards than many other similar works, and the writing is clear and avoids unnecessary complexity, following the general structure of Persian grammar.<ref>Azarnoush, Azartash, et al., "Translation of the Quran," Encyclopedia of the Islamic World, 1393 CE, vol. 7, entry.</ref>
* '''Tafseer Quran Majid, Cambridge Edition''': Compiled between the 4th and 5th centuries, only the second half of this commentary (in two volumes) remains. This work has been described as one of the most delightful examples of Persian prose.<ref>Azarnoush, Azartash, et al., "Translation of the Quran," Encyclopedia of the Islamic World, 1393 CE, vol. 7, entry.</ref> The original version of this book is incomplete, and only the third and fourth volumes are preserved in the Cambridge library. The author of this ancient commentary is unknown.<ref>Introduction to Tafseer Quran Majid, Cambridge Edition, Jala Matini, Tehran, Iran Culture Foundation, 1349 CE, p. 17.</ref>
* '''Taj al-Tarajim fi Tafseer al-Quran lil-Ajams''': A work by Shahfur (Shahfur) bin Tahir Asfarayini, one of the most beautiful Persian exegeses. This book, in terms of structure, vocabulary, and the duality of prose in translation and commentary, has much in common with contemporary works. The editors of Taj al-Tarajim have considered it a turning point in the history of Quranic translations.<ref>Azarnoush, Azartash, "Translation of the Quran," Encyclopedia of the Islamic World, 1393 CE, vol. 7, entry.</ref>
* '''Tafseer Sourabadi''': A classical Persian commentary on the Quran written by Abu Bakr Atiq bin Muhammad Heravi Nishapuri, known as Sourabadi or Suryani, a 5th-century interpreter.<ref>Mo'ini, Mohsen, "Tafseer Sourabadi," Encyclopedia of the Islamic World, 1393 CE, vol. 7, entry.</ref>

== 6th and 7th Centuries ==
* '''Tafseer Nasafi''': The work of Najm al-Din Nasafi, a translated commentary of the Quran into rhymed Persian prose. This work is one of the earliest complete translations of the Quran into Persian.<ref>Omar Joyah, Mohammad, "Introduction to Tafseer Nasafi," Binaat, accessed on December 28, 2022.</ref>
* '''Kashf al-Asrar wa 'Iddat al-Abrar''': A mystical commentary by [[Kashf al-Asrar wa 'Iddat al-Abrar]], authored by Abu al-Fadl Rashid al-Din Maybudi, from the 6th century CE.<ref>Masrat, Hossein, "Leading Persian Commentaries on the Quran," Book Pajh, No. 46, Summer 2021, p. 89.</ref>
* '''Tafseer Basayr Yamini''': A concise and attractive commentary by Muhammad bin Mahmoud Nishapuri, who passed away in 599 AH.<ref>Iyazi, Mohammad Ali, "Tafseer Basayr Yamini," Binaat, 2nd year, Issue 6, p. 188.</ref>
* '''Rawdat al-Jinan wa Ruh al-Janan''': [[Tafseer Abu al-Futuh Razi]], the most detailed and oldest Shiite commentary in Persian. The author of this work, Abu al-Futuh Razi, was a theologian of the Imamiyya sect in the 6th century. His approach combines theological and narrative methods, but it also emphasizes the literary aspects of the Quran, such as linguistic and grammatical issues and references to Arabic poetry to clarify meanings.<ref>Yahagi, Mohammad-Jafar, "Tafseer Abu al-Futuh Razi," Encyclopedia of the Islamic World, 1393 CE, vol. 7, entry.</ref>

== 8th, 9th, and 10th Centuries ==
* '''Jalaa al-Azhan wa Jalaa al-Ahzan (Tafseer Gazer)''': Known as Tafseer Gazer, a Persian Quran commentary by Abu al-Mahasin Jarjani, an Imamiyyah scholar from the 8th century. It was first published by Mir Jalal al-Din Muddath Eramawi in ten volumes.<ref>Pahlevan, Mansour, "Tafseer Gazer," Encyclopedia of the Islamic World, 1393 CE, vol. 7, entry.</ref>

Most important Persian commentaries on the Quran - Revision history