Is Ruh al-Ma’ani by Mahmud al-Aalusi Considered a Hanafi Tafsir
Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel
Question
Is Ruh al-Ma’ani by Mahmud al-Aalusi considered a Hanafi Tafsir? Was Mahmud al-Aalusi a Hanafi?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.
I pray you are in good faith and health.
Mahmud al-Aalusi (Allah Have Mercy on Him)
Abu al-Thana’ Shihab ad-Din Sayyid Maḥmud ibn ‘Abd Allah al-Arab Ḥusayni al-Aalusi al-Baghdadi, born on the 10th of December 1802 – 29 July 1854 CE/1270 AH was an Iraqi Islamic scholar who followed the Hanafi school of jurisprudence. He is well known for writing Ruh al-Ma’ani, an exegesis (tafsir) of the Quran.
Ruh al-Ma‘ani
Since this is the publication of the latest era, the author has tried to gather essential discussions of previous exegeses. Hence elaborate discussions have been carried out on language, grammar, literature, rhetoric, jurisprudence, beliefs, etymology, geophysics, astronomy, philosophy, spiritualism, and relevant narrations. An attempt has been made that no scientific and literary problem should remain unanswered. In the matter of reporting Traditions, ‘Allama Aalusi (Allah have mercy on him) had been more careful than other commentators. In this respect, it may be called a summary of the earlier exegeses, and no work on the exegesis of the Quran can be done without help from this work. [Usmani, An Approach to the Quranic Sciences]
Status of Ruh al-Ma‘ani
Ruh al-Ma’ani, which in my opinion, is an exegesis for the Quran on the pattern of Fath al-Bari, the commentary of Sahih al-Bukhari, except that Fath al-Bari is the interpretation of human words. It has paid the debt of the exegesis of Sahih al-Bukhari on the ummah. But the Words of Allah Most are more exalted for any human being to give its due right. [Binnori, Yatimat al-Bayan Fi Muqqadima Li Mushkilat al-Quran]
Related:
What Are Some Book Recommendations for Tafsir?
Why not begin your search for knowledge by signing up for one of our courses on the Quranic Studies Curriculum on SeekersGuidance?
I pray this helps with your question.
Wassalam,
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Mawlana Ilyas Patel is a traditionally-trained scholar who has studied in the UK, India, Pakistan, Syria, Jordan, and Turkey. He started his early education in the UK. He went on to complete the hifz of the Quran in India, then enrolled in an Islamic seminary in the UK, where he studied the secular and ‘Aalimiyya sciences. He then traveled to Karachi, Pakistan. He has been an Imam in Rep of Ireland for several years. He has taught hifz of the Quran, Tajwid, Fiqh, and many other Islamic sciences to children and adults onsite and online extensively in the UK and Ireland. He taught at a local Islamic seminary for 12 years in the UK, where he was a librarian and a teacher of Islamic sciences. He currently resides in the UK with his wife. His interest is a love of books and gardening.
