Tafhim-ul-Quran


Tafhim-ul-Quran is a 6-volume translation and commentary of the Qur'an by the Pakistani Islamist ideologue and activist Syed Abul Ala Maududi. Maududi began writing the book in 1942 and completed it in 1972.
The Tafhim is a combination of orthodox and modernist interpretation and has deeply influenced modern Islamic thought. It differs from traditional exegeses in several ways. It is more than a traditional commentary on the scripture as it contains discussions and debates regarding economics, sociology, history, and politics. In his text, Maududi highlights Quranic perspective and argues that Islam provides ample guidance in all spheres.
Maududi uses the standard technique of providing an explanation of the Qur'anic verses from the Sunnah of Muhammed, including the historical reasons behind the verses.
The Tafhim deals extensively with issues faced by the modern world in general and the Muslim community in particular.

Naming

Tafhim is derived from the Arabic word which means "understanding".

Translations

Maududi wrote his work in Urdu. It has since been translated to languages including English, Hindi, Bengali, Malayalam, Marathi and Pashto. First English translation was done by Chaudhry Akbar Khan.
In 2006, the Islamic Foundation published an abridged one-volume English translation by Zafar Ishaq Ansari under the title Towards Understanding the Qur'an.