Ruh Al-Ma’ani; Sunni Scholars’ Most Extensive Quran Exegesis
Ruh al-Ma’ani fi Tafsir al-Quran al-Azim wa Sab’ul Mathani, written by Mahmoud bin Abdullah al-Alusi is a Quran exegesis in the Arabic language. It is an intellect and Ijtihad-based Quran interpretation using a literary method.
It is the most extensive Quran exegesis written in an old way after that of Fakhr Razi and can be considered to be the second volume of that one. Published in 16 volumes, Ruh al-Ma’ani is an encyclopedic interpretation.
About Author
Abu Al-Thana Sayed Mahmoud Shahabeddin Afandi (1802-1854) was a Faqih (jurisprudent), interpreter, literary figure and religious scholar in Baghdad. He studied literature with his father and a number of experts since early childhood and made great progress due to his high intelligence and good memory.
He soon became a top scholar and was known as Allamah. He was Shafi’i but in 1832 and after learning about the Fiqh of other schools of thought became a follower of Hanafi school.
He writes in the preface to the exegesis that he had been after discovering the secrets of the Quran since childhood and prayed God to help him on this path.
He spent his early years and his youths to study about the Quran and wrote a book titled Daqaiq at-Tafsir on questions about the Quran.
At the age of 43 he started writing his Quran exegesis and finished it in 1850, naming it Ruh al-Ma’ani fi Tafsir al-Quran al-Azim wa Sab’ul Mathani.
Features of Ruh Al-Ma’ani Quran Exegesis
Ruh al-Ma’ani is the most extensive and most comprehensive exegesis of the Quran written by Sunni scholars. It authentically reports the views of previous interprets and can be considered a summary of Quran interpretations written earlier. Al-Alusi has used the views mentioned in Quran exegeses like those written by Ibn Atiyya, Abu Hayyan. Kashshaf, Abu al-Saud, Baizawi, and Fakhr Razi. He has cited their views and also offered critiques of them. He has mostly benefited from the work of Fakhr Razi.
