The Holy Quran is the central religious text of Islam and the foremost source of Islamic teachings, values, and laws. As the literal word of God revealed to the Prophet Muhammad between 610 and 632 CE, studying and analyzing the Quran has been a crucial endeavor for Muslim scholars throughout history.
An intricate methodology termed Ulum al-Quran, or ‘Quranic Sciences’, evolved over the centuries dedicated purely to the study, interpretation, and exegesis of the Quran. In this article, we will provide an overview of the key Books and References in Quranic Sciences and foundations of the Quranic Sciences.
Definition of Quranic Sciences
Quranic sciences are defined as the studies that involve the examination of the Holy Quran or the sciences that specialize in everything related to the Quran. These studies explore the Quran from the perspective of the arrangement of its verses and their revelation, its recitations, its miracles, its styles, its clear and ambiguous verses, its abrogating and abrogated verses.
Therefore, Quranic sciences refer to every field of knowledge that serves the Holy Quran. Quranic sciences or Quranic studies are a collection of disciplines related to the study and research of the Holy Quran. These disciplines include:
- Tafsir (Quranic exegesis)
- Quranic recitation sciences
- Quranic syntax
- Quranic rhetoric
- Science of meanings and expressionsSeerah (Prophet’s biography)
The Emergence of Quranic Sciences
The Quranic sciences emerged with the revelation of the Holy Quran, and the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was the first to explain and interpret the Quran. At first, the science of tafsir (Quranic exegesis) was transmitted orally from one generation to the next, but it developed over time until written books containing explanations and interpretations of the Quran were produced.
Other Quranic sciences, such as grammar, morphology, rhetoric, and prosody, also developed because the Quran contains linguistic structures, rhetorical devices, and literary styles that needed to be studied to understand its meanings and interpretations.
As Islamic sciences progressed, greater attention was paid to Quranic sciences, and schools dedicated to studying these sciences emerged, such as the schools of Kufa, Basra, Alexandria, and Damascus. Among the most prominent scholars who contributed to the development of Quranic sciences were Ibn Mas’ud, Ibn Abbas, Umar ibn al-Khattab, Abu Bakr al-Siddiq, Ali ibn Abi Talib, Ibn Jarir al-Tabari, al-Zamakhshari, al-Suyuti, Ibn Kathir, Ibn Ashur, and others.
In modern times, Quranic sciences have witnessed significant development, with people having access to abundant electronic sources and references that aid in studying Quranic sciences more comprehensively and effectively. Universities, institutes, and research centers dedicated to studying Quranic sciences have also emerged.
Among the most prominent modern scholars who contributed to the development of Quranic sciences were Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab, Muhammad Abduh, Rashid Rida, Ahmad Amin, Muhammad al-Ghazali, and others.
The emergence of Quranic sciences can be divided into several stages:
1- The Prophetic period
The stage of the revelation of the Quran, its preservation, and its transcription during the Prophet’s lifetime.
2- The era of the Companions
The Companions focused on interpreting the verses of the Quran and explaining and transcribing them. Quranic recitation styles also emerged during this period.
3- The era of the Successors (tabi’in)
Scholars of this era continued to interpret and research the secrets of the Quran.
4- The era of the two Imams
Significant works on Quranic exegesis were produced during the era of Imam al-Shafi’i and Imam al-Bukhari.
5- The era of Islamic Renaissance
This was a turning point for deeper research and interest in the grammatical, rhetorical, and linguistic aspects of the Quran.
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What is the importance of Quranic sciences?
Quranic sciences are the scientific study of the Quran, and include many specializations such as exegesis, grammar, morphology, rhetoric, prosody, readings, anomalies, chains of transmission, semantics, and eloquence. The importance of Quranic sciences lies in many aspects, including:
- Reaching a deeper and more accurate understanding of the Book of Allah.
- Highlighting the beauty of Quranic rhetoric and literature.
- Refuting the doubts and objections of Orientalists and atheists regarding the Quran.
- Demonstrating the miraculous nature of the Quran.
- Understanding the Quran in its proper historical context.
- Spreading and teaching the Quran.
- Understanding the words of Allah and reaching knowledge of His intended meaning.
- Preserving and protecting the Quran from distortion and alteration.
- Developing Islamic thought and analyzing modern problems and challenges in line with the purposes of Islamic law.
Modern methods in the study of Quranic sciences
The methods used in the study of Quranic sciences have developed significantly in modern times, with many modern techniques and approaches emerging that aid in better understanding, analyzing, and interpreting the Quran. Some of the most important methods include:
1- Textual criticism
This involves a detailed analysis of the Quranic text, including its structure, style, vocabulary, and meanings. It focuses on the rhetorical and literary techniques used in the Quran.
2- Semantic analysis
This involves a careful analysis of the meanings of the Quranic text and the linguistic, cultural, and historical connotations of the words and phrases used in the Quran.
3- Contextual analysis
This involves studying the Quranic text in its linguistic, historical, and social context, and analyzing the relationships between verses, chapters, rulings, and themes.
4- Stylistic analysis
This involves studying the linguistic performance techniques used in the Quran, such as rhythm, melody, repetition, emphasis, astonishment, and others, and analyzing the role of these techniques in conveying the moral, intellectual, and rhetorical meanings of the Quranic text.
5- Psychological analysis
This involves studying the psychological and spiritual impact of the Quran and the relationship between the Quran and the human psyche and society.
6- Statistical analysis
This involves using statistical techniques to analyze the Quranic text and its meanings, such as quantitative analysis of the words, linguistic structures, and vocabulary used in the Quran, and analyzing the internal structure of chapters and verses.
7- Electronic analysis
This involves using modern technologies in textual, contextual, semantic, and stylistic analysis, such as computational linguistics and specialized software programs for analyzing the structure of chapters, verses, words, and linguistic structures.
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Top 10 Books and References in Quranic Sciences
In this paragraph, we will list the top 10 books and references in Quranic sciences in detail. These are the most prominent:
- Al-Jami’ li-Ahkam Al-Quran by Imam Al-Qurtubi
- Mukhtasar Tafsir Al-Qurtubi
- Tafsir Al-Baydawi
- Tafsir Al-Tabari
- Al-Qamus Al-Muhit by Ibn Faris
- Al-Mufradat fi Gharib Al-Quran by Al-Raghib Al-Asfahani
- Al-Balaghah by Al-Zarkashi
- Ma’ani Al-Quran wa-I’raban by Al-Zajjaj
- Al-Itqan fi ‘Ulum Al-Quran by Al-Suyuti
- Al-Burhan fi ‘Ulum Al-Quran by Al-Zarkashi
This is a detailed statement of the top 10 books and references in Quranic sciences.
1- Al-Jami’ li ‘Ulum al-Qur’an by Imam Al-Qurtubi
Al-Jami’ li ‘Ulum al-Qur’an is a comprehensive book on the sciences of the Qur’an written by Imam Al-Qurtubi. It is one of the most famous books of tafsir (Qur’anic exegesis) and Qur’anic sciences in the Islamic heritage and is considered one of the most important scientific references in this field. The book consists of several parts, with the first part addressing the readings and the fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) rulings related to them, the second part addressing the sciences of grammar, morphology, and rhetoric, the third part addressing the science of tafsir and other Qur’anic sciences, and the fourth part addressing the complete tafsir of the Qur’an.
The book is known for its easy and clear style, and for its detailed and comprehensive coverage of all the sciences of the Qur’an. It presents information and ideas in an organized and coordinated manner, making it an important reference for students and researchers in Qur’anic sciences. In addition, the book is considered one of the primary references in the study of tafsir and Qur’anic sciences in the Islamic world and has greatly enriched Islamic sciences. It remains widely popular in the Islamic world to this day.
2- Mukhtasar Tafsir al-Qurtubi
Mukhtasar Tafsir al-Qurtubi is a small book summarizing Imam Al-Qurtubi’s tafsir of the Qur’an, and is considered an important source in Islamic Qur’anic sciences. The summary contains a brief tafsir of the Qur’anic verses and includes an explanation of some of the Qur’anic vocabulary and terminology in a concise manner.
The summary is known for its simple and clear style, and includes a tafsir of most of the verses of the Qur’an. It is an important reference in the study of Qur’anic tafsir, and provides students and researchers with a brief and easy-to-understand overview of Qur’anic tafsir concepts.
The summary relies on the opinions and interpretations of previous scholars of tafsir, and briefly presents the tafsir method that Imam Al-Qurtubi used in his tafsir of the Qur’an. It is an important reference for the study of Qur’anic tafsir and sciences.
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3- Tafsir Al-Baydawi
Tafsir Al-Baydawi is a tafsir of the Qur’an written by the Moroccan scholar, Muhammad b. ‘Abdullah Al-Baydawi. It is known for its methodical approach, which relies on tafsir of the Qur’an by the Qur’an and the Sunnah, and explains the linguistic and terminological meanings of Qur’anic words. The tafsir is characterized by its simple and clear style, and provides a comprehensive and detailed treatment of Qur’anic topics. Al-Baydawi emphasizes accurate and logical clarification of Qur’anic concepts, and explains the names of Allah, religious, ethical, and historical concepts mentioned in the Qur’an.
Tafsir Al-Baydawi relies on authentic Islamic sources in tafsir, presents the opinions of previous scholars of tafsir, explains the differences between them, and is considered one of the most important scientific references in the study of Qur’anic tafsir and sciences. The tafsir is composed of several volumes, includes a tafsir of most of the Qur’anic verses, and is an important reference for students, interpreters, and researchers in Qur’anic and Islamic sciences.
4- Tafsir al-Tabari
Tafsir al-Tabari is a tafsir of the Qur’an written by the famous Islamic Arab scholar, Abu Ja’far Muhammad b. Jarir al-Tabari, and is considered one of the most important and famous tafsirs in the Islamic heritage. Tafsir al-Tabari relies on the evidences from the Qur’an and the Hadith related to the subject matter, and pays great attention to the linguistic, grammatical, morphological, and rhetorical tafsir of the Qur’anic verses. It provides a detailed explanation of most of the Qur’anic verses.
Tafsir al-Tabari is composed of several volumes, and covers topics such as monotheism, ethics, Islamic history, fiqh rulings, and others. It is considered one of the essential references in the study of Islamic Qur’anic sciences, and has greatly enriched Islamic sciences. It is an important reference for students, interpreters, and researchers in Qur’anic and Islamic sciences, and many modern tafsirs rely on Tafsir al-Tabari for explanation and clarification.
5- Ibn Faris’ Dictionary of Language Metrics
The Dictionary of Language Metrics is an important linguistic book written by the famous Arab scholar, Jamal al-Din Muhammad ibn Makram ibn Manzur al-Azdi, known as Ibn Faris. It is one of the most famous linguistic dictionaries in the Arab world, containing definitions and interpretations of Arabic words and terms. This dictionary is considered an important reference for studying and understanding the Arabic language. It is one of the largest Arabic dictionaries, containing about 70,000 entries, covering all aspects of Arabic language, including grammar, morphology, rhetoric, literature, and more.
Ibn Faris’ Dictionary of Language Metrics is known for its precise and clear style, providing detailed definitions of words, explaining their linguistic roots, precise and figurative meanings, and is considered one of the most important linguistic references in Arab heritage. This dictionary is an important reference for students, interpreters, and researchers of the Arabic language and has greatly enriched the Arabic language and is still popular in the Arab world today.
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6- Vocabulary in Raghib al-Isfahani’s Strange Quran
The Strange Quran is a linguistic book written by the famous Iranian scholar, Raghib al-Isfahani, and is considered one of the most important references in studying and understanding the Arabic language. The book includes vocabulary and terms from the Quran that require interpretation and clarification, explaining the precise and figurative meanings and terms used in the Quranic language. The book covers terms and expressions from various fields, such as literature, rhetoric, grammar, morphology, jurisprudence, and more.
The Strange Quran is an important guide for understanding the Arabic language and the Quran, and is widely used in linguistic and Islamic studies. It is an important reference for students, interpreters, and researchers of the Arabic language and Quranic interpretation, and has greatly enriched the Arabic language and Islamic interpretation.
7- Al-Zarkashi’s Dictionary of Rhetoric
The Dictionary of Rhetoric is a linguistic book written by the famous Arab scholar, Shams al-Din Muhammad ibn Abd al-Rahman al-Zarkashi, and is considered one of the most important references in Arabic language and rhetoric.
The dictionary includes vocabulary and terms used in Arabic speeches, providing detailed explanations and precise definitions of these words and expressions, explaining their linguistic and rhetorical meanings and uses. The Dictionary of Rhetoric is known for its precise and clear style, containing multiple volumes and covering a range of topics, including grammar, morphology, rhetoric, literature, poetry, and more.
The Dictionary of Rhetoric is one of the fundamental references in studying Arabic language and rhetoric, and has greatly enriched Islamic sciences. It is still popular in the Arab world and is an important reference for students, interpreters, and researchers of the Arabic language and rhetoric.
8- Al-Zajjaj’s Meanings and Grammar of the Quran
The Meanings and Grammar of the Quran is an important linguistic book written by the famous Arab scholar, Abu al-Qasim Muhammad ibn Ahmad al-Zajjaj, and is considered one of the most important references in studying and understanding the Arabic language. The book provides a detailed explanation of the meanings of Quranic words and expressions, interpreting Quranic verses and providing precise definitions of Quranic vocabulary. It also explains the grammatical and morphological structures of Quranic verses in detail.
The Meanings and Grammar of the Quran is known for its precise and clear style, containing organized definitions and explanations of Quranic vocabulary and expressions, explaining precise meanings and figurative language, as well as the grammatical, morphological, and rhetorical devices used in the Quran. It is one of the best books and references in Quranic sciences, and is an important reference for students, interpreters, and researchers of the Arabic language and Quranic interpretation.
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9- Al-Itqan fi Ulum Al-Quran by Al-Suyuti
Al-Itqan fi Ulum Al-Quran is a comprehensive linguistic and interpretive book authored by the famous Islamic scholar, Jalal al-Din al-Suyuti, and is considered one of the most important references in studying the sciences of the Holy Quran. The book includes a detailed explanation of Quranic verses and an interpretation of the precise meanings of Quranic words.
It also explains the grammatical, morphological, and rhetorical principles used in the Holy Quran, and provides an interpretation of Quranic terminology and legal and rhetorical expressions used in the Quran.
The book is known for its simplified and clear style, providing a comprehensive interpretation of the Holy Quran, and explaining the meanings of verses accurately and in detail. It also explains the linguistic and interpretive methods followed in the Holy Quran.
10- Al-Burhan fi Ulum Al-Quran by Al-Zarkashi
Al-Burhan fi Ulum Al-Quran is a comprehensive linguistic and interpretive book authored by the famous Islamic scholar, Shams al-Din Muhammad ibn Abd al-Rahman al-Zarkashi, and is considered one of the most important references in studying the sciences of the Holy Quran.
The book includes a detailed explanation of Quranic verses and an interpretation of the precise meanings of Quranic words. It also explains the grammatical, morphological, and rhetorical principles used in the Holy Quran, and provides an interpretation of Quranic terminology and legal and rhetorical expressions used in the Quran.
The book is known for its clear and accurate style, providing a comprehensive interpretation of the Holy Quran, and explaining the meanings of verses accurately and in detail. It also explains the linguistic and interpretive methods followed in the Holy Quran.
Wahion Youha Academy for Quranic Sciences is one of the leading academies in memorizing the Qur’an around the world, as it includes a group of sheikhs and teachers with specialization in Islamic studies and sciences, and the Academy also offers many courses and training programs that help the child learn the Qur’an and understand its meanings,
as well as the presence of educational programs for non-Arabic speakers to teach them the foundations and rules of the Arabic language with the presence of courses specialized in the study of Tajweed science, the science of readings, jurisprudence, the science of Quranic context and other authentic Islamic sciences