Madārik al-Tanzīl wa-Ḥaqāʾiq al-Taʾwīl (Tafsīr al-Nasafī)

مدارك التنزيل وحقائق التأويل

By Imām Abū al-Barakāt ʿAbd Allāh ibn Aḥmad al-Nasafī (d. 710 AH)

Widely known as Tafsīr al-Nasafī, Madārik al-Tanzīl wa-Ḥaqāʾiq al-Taʾwīl is one of the most celebrated and enduring classical commentaries on the Qur'an. Revered for its clarity, precision, and balance, it has long been a standard text in Islamic seminaries and universities, particularly within the Hanafi and Māturīdī traditions.

Imām al-Nasafī produced this tafsir as a masterful synthesis of two of the most influential Qur'anic commentaries in Islamic scholarship. From al-Zamakhsharī's Al-Kashshāf, he retained its remarkable insights into Arabic eloquence, rhetoric, and linguistic analysis while carefully omitting its Muʿtazilī theological views. From Fakhr al-Dīn al-Rāzī's Mafātīḥ al-Ghayb, he incorporated theological discussions, legal insights, and exegetical analysis, presenting them in a concise and accessible form free from unnecessary philosophical digressions.

Faithful to the creed of Ahl al-Sunnah wa-al-Jamāʿah, Imām al-Nasafī combines linguistic precision with sound theology and practical jurisprudence. His commentary gives careful attention to Arabic grammar, morphology, rhetoric, and the subtleties of Qur'anic expression while highlighting the legal rulings derived from the verses according to the Hanafi school, with due consideration of other juristic opinions where appropriate. Avoiding excessive reliance on weak historical reports and Isrāʾīliyyāt, the work has earned a reputation as one of the most balanced and reliable intermediate-to-advanced tafsirs in the Islamic tradition.

This three-volume critical edition from Dār Taḥqīq al-Kitāb has been carefully verified from reliable manuscript sources, ensuring a highly accurate text with appropriate vocalization. It also includes references for the hadiths cited throughout the commentary, enhancing its usefulness for students, teachers, and researchers.

Features

• One of the most widely studied classical Sunni tafsirs
• Masterful synthesis of Al-Kashshāf and Mafātīḥ al-Ghayb
• Purged of Muʿtazilī theological interpretations while preserving linguistic excellence
• Strong emphasis on Arabic grammar, rhetoric, and eloquence
• Highlights Hanafi juristic rulings and legal insights
• Concise, balanced, and free from unnecessary digressions
• Three-volume critical edition based on reliable manuscript sources
• Includes references for the hadiths cited throughout the tafsir
• An essential reference for students of Qur'anic exegesis and Arabic language