معارفُ القرآن‘‘ از مولانا مفتی محمد شفیعؒ اور ’’رُشدُ القرآن‘‘ از مولانا اسیداللہؒ میں امثالِ قرآن کی تفسیر و تعبیر کے مناہج کا تقابلی مطالعہ

A Comparative Study of the Interpretive Methodologies of Qur’ānic Parables in Ma‘ārif al-Qur’ān by Mufti Muhammad Shafiʿ and Rushd al-Qur’ān by Maulana Usaydullah

Abstract

The Qur’anic parables (amthāl al-Qur’ān) function as profound pedagogical tools, conveying divine wisdom through vivid analogies that link the tangible world with metaphysical truths, guiding humanity toward spiritual, moral, and social development. This study provides a comparative analysis of the interpretive methodologies in two notable Urdu and Pashto tafāsīr: Ma‘ārif al-Qur’ān by Muftī Muḥammad Shafī‘ (d. 1976), a classic work grounded in fiqh and traditional exegesis, and Rushd al-Qur’ān by Mawlānā Asīdullāh, a Pashto tafsīr known for its rational, accessible, and contextually relevant approach. Focusing on selected parables, such as the similitude of the hypocrites to a mirage (Surah al-Baqarah 2:17-20) and the parable of the spider’s web (Surah al-Ankabut 29:41), the study contrasts Muftī Shafī‘’s methodology, which emphasizes integration with Hadith, juristic implications, and classical scholarly consensus, with Asīdullāh’s approach that prioritizes linguistic clarity, rational reflection, and ethical applicability. The analysis reveals convergence in adherence to orthodox Sunni principles while highlighting divergences in focus: Ma‘ārif al-Qur’ān emphasizes practical guidance, spiritual reform, and moral instruction, whereas Rushd al-Qur’ān emphasizes cognitive engagement, linguistic precision, and intellectual reflection. This study underscores the dynamic interplay between tradition and accessibility in Qur’anic hermeneutics, providing valuable insights for contemporary scholars and educators seeking to harmonize classical rigor with modern pedagogical needs.