Tafsir-e-Uthmani: A Translation and Commentary of the Noble Qur’an volume 1-8

Basic Information

Title: Tafsir-e-Uthmani: A Translation and Commentary of the Noble Qur’an
Volumes: 8
Authors:

• Maulana Mahmood Hasan Deobandi (Shaikh-ul-Hind): Began the Urdu translation and commentary.

• Allama Shabbir Ahmad Usmani (Shaikh-ul-Islam): Completed the tafsir after Maulana Mahmood Hasan’s passing.
  Original Language: Urdu
  Current Edition: English translation of the Urdu commentary
  Publishers: Commonly printed by Darul Ishaat (Karachi) and other Islamic publishers

Purpose and Background

This tafsir was written to make the meaning of the Qur’an accessible to readers through a clear translation accompanied by concise yet profound commentary.
Maulana Mahmood Hasan started the work while imprisoned by the British during India’s colonial era. After his death, his student Allama Shabbir Ahmad Usmani completed the remaining sections.
The tafsir represents the intellectual and spiritual tradition of classical Sunni scholarship in the Indian subcontinent.

Structure and Format

The complete commentary spans eight volumes, covering the entire Qur’an.
Each page typically includes:

1. The original Arabic text of the Qur’an (in Uthmani script).

2. The English translation of the verse.

3. Explanatory commentary that clarifies linguistic, historical, and theological aspects.

The commentary is concise, making it easier to read than larger classical works such as Tafsir Ibn Kathir or Tafsir al-Tabari, yet it preserves scholarly depth.

Key Features

• Balanced Translation: Faithful to the original Arabic while written in simple, fluent English.

• Concise Commentary: Explains the meanings, context of revelation (asbab al-nuzul), grammatical subtleties, and moral lessons.

• Authentic Sources: Based on classical tafsirs such as al-Baydawi, al-Jalalayn, and al-Razi, alongside hadith and juristic reasoning.

• Sequential Coverage: Each volume continues from the previous one, maintaining coherence and cross-references among Surahs.

• Educational Design: Includes Arabic text with translation and commentary side-by-side, suitable for both study and recitation.

Scholarly Value

Tafsir-e-Uthmani is regarded as one of the most respected Urdu commentaries on the Qur’an. It reflects a scholarly balance — remaining faithful to traditional interpretation while making the Qur’an understandable for the general reader.

The commentary avoids speculative interpretation, focusing instead on linguistic precision, theological soundness, and practical lessons derived from the verses.

Style and Approach

The style is clear, elegant, and devotional rather than philosophical.
The authors write from within the classical Sunni perspective, with emphasis on:

• The Qur’an’s internal coherence.

• The unity of divine message across prophets.

• Practical guidance for moral and spiritual reform.

• The harmony between reason and revelation.

Strengths

• Offers an accurate and accessible English commentary rooted in classical tafsir tradition.

• Includes the complete Arabic text, making it suitable for recitation and study.

• The eight-volume layout allows for easy reading and reference.

• Maintains authenticity while being readable for modern audiences.

Limitations

• As a full commentary, it requires patience and regular study; it is not a short or introductory text.

• The English edition is a translation from Urdu, which itself interprets the Arabic — meaning there can be some loss of nuance through double translation.

• It reflects a specific Sunni scholastic perspective and may differ in tone from other tafsirs such as Ma’ariful Qur’an or Ibn Kathir.

Intended Audience

• Students of Qur’anic studies who want an authoritative tafsir in English.

• Teachers, imams, and scholars seeking reference material for lessons and sermons.

• Devout readers who want a systematic, detailed understanding of Qur’anic meaning.

• Libraries, mosques, and institutions that wish to provide comprehensive Qur’an commentaries in English.

Summary

Tafsir-e-Uthmani (Volumes 1–8) is a complete translation and commentary on the Noble Qur’an, combining the scholarship of two great 20th-century Islamic scholars. It offers clear translation, deep yet concise explanation, and faithful adherence to classical sources.

It remains one of the most respected Urdu-origin tafsirs now available in English — bridging traditional Islamic scholarship with the needs of contemporary readers.