Tafsir al-Munir: A Comprehensive and Modern Quranic Commentary by Wahbah al-Zuhaili
Tafsir al-Munir is one of the most renowned and respected Quranic commentaries in the contemporary Islamic world. It was written by the late Syrian scholar and jurist Wahbah al-Zuhaili (1932-2015), who was a prominent authority on Islamic law, theology, and spirituality. Tafsir al-Munir is a comprehensive and modern interpretation of the Quran that covers various aspects of its meaning, such as linguistic, literary, rhetorical, historical, doctrinal, legal, ethical, social, and spiritual. It also engages with the views of classical and modern exegetes, as well as contemporary issues and challenges facing Muslims.
Tafsir al-Munir consists of 15 volumes that span over 10,000 pages. It was first published in Arabic in 1991 and has since been translated into several languages, including Indonesian, Turkish, Urdu, and English. The English translation is currently in progress and is expected to be completed by 2023. The translation is being supervised by Dr. Muhammad Abdul-Rahman al-Marwani, a professor of Quranic studies at the International Islamic University Malaysia.
One of the main features of Tafsir al-Munir is its balanced and moderate approach that reflects the mainstream Sunni orthodoxy and avoids sectarianism and extremism. It also adopts a contextual and holistic method that considers the Quran as a coherent and integrated whole, rather than isolated verses or chapters. Moreover, it employs a rational and scientific analysis that respects the miraculous nature of the Quran and its divine origin.
Tafsir al-Munir is a valuable resource for anyone who wants to deepen their understanding of the Quran and its relevance for today’s world. It is available in PDF format for free download from various online sources, such as Archive.org[^1^] [^2^] [^3^]. However, readers are advised to verify the authenticity and quality of the files before downloading them.
In addition to Tafsir al-Munir, Wahbah al-Zuhaili wrote many other books on various Islamic topics, such as Islamic jurisprudence, Islamic legal theory, Islamic finance, Islamic ethics, Islamic history, and Islamic spirituality. Some of his most notable works include Al-Fiqh al-Islami wa Adillatuhu (Islamic Jurisprudence and its Proofs), a 10-volume encyclopedia of Islamic law that covers all the major schools of thought and contemporary issues; Al-Wajiz fi Usul al-Fiqh (The Concise in the Principles of Jurisprudence), a widely used textbook on Islamic legal theory; Usul al-Fiqh al-Islami (The Principles of Islamic Jurisprudence), a comprehensive and comparative study of the sources and methods of Islamic law; Al-Mu’amalat al-Maliyyah al-Mu’asirah (Contemporary Financial Transactions), a detailed analysis of the Islamic rulings on banking, insurance, stock market, and other financial matters; Al-Turath al-Islami fi al-Qarn al-‘Ishrin (The Islamic Heritage in the 21st Century), a critical evaluation of the challenges and opportunities facing Muslims in the modern world; and Al-Tasawwuf al-Islami wa Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama’ah (Islamic Sufism and the People of Sunnah and Consensus), a defense of the legitimacy and necessity of Sufism within Islam.
Wahbah al-Zuhaili was not only a prolific writer but also a respected teacher and preacher. He taught at several universities and institutions around the world, such as Damascus University, University of Benghazi, University of United Arab Emirates, University of Khartoum, and Islamic University of Riyadh. He also delivered lectures and sermons in many mosques and conferences across the globe. He was known for his moderate and balanced views that reflected the mainstream Sunni orthodoxy and avoided sectarianism and extremism. He was also a signatory to several interfaith and intra-faith initiatives that aimed at promoting dialogue and harmony among different religious groups, such as the Amman Message and A Common Word.
Wahbah al-Zuhaili passed away on 8 August 2015 in Damascus at the age of 83. He left behind a legacy of scholarship and service that will continue to benefit Muslims and non-Muslims alike. His works are widely available online in PDF format for free download from various sources[^1^] [^2^] [^3^]. However, readers are advised to verify the authenticity and quality of the files before downloading them.