Al-Bayan: Translation & Commentary of the Noble Quran

An Urdu translation and commentary of the Noble Quran—the first in which the Quran's coherence becomes evident from the translation itself, without additional explanation. Especially valuable for students and knowledge seekers pursuing a clear understanding of the Quran's message.

Transcript Excerpt:

[1:32] This is a translation and commentary of the Noble Quran. As you know, when we discuss religious matters, it can't be about my personal philosophy or yours. If I want to present my own philosophy or wisdom, I will do so by identifying it as my own.

When the topic is religion, the foundational authority is God's book, the Noble Quran. You are also aware that in our school of thought, the Quran is the core and the central axis. In matters of faith, everything begins and ends with it. It is the ultimate, decisive authority. Everything is presented before it for judgment, and its verdict is considered final. From this, it naturally becomes clear that the Glorious Quran should be the main focus of our attention.

This book wasn't revealed today; it was revealed fourteen to fifteen hundred years ago to Muhammad (peace be upon him). It wasn't simply left aside; people have continuously worked on it. This work has primarily taken two forms: clarifying its words and sentences, and translating it when other languages were encountered, such as with the early interactions with Persian people.

Furthermore, just as high-level scholarly or literary books require detailed explanation and commentary, the Quran has its own. This in-depth commentary and explanation is what we call Tafsir. [3:20]

Who is the target audience for Al-Bayan? Is it for someone who first feels a specific religious calling and then picks up the book, or is it an open invitation for all Muslims?

Response: The target audience for this work is students — knowledge seekers. A student wants to understand things as they truly are. I am a student myself, and I wrote this with students in mind. I have tried to ensure that all the foundational needs of a student are met at an introductory level. After that stage, when a student becomes a scholar, they are no longer dependent on others and can form their own opinions. —Transcript Excerpt

When one opens Al-Bayan, we see that you have written an introduction (muqaddama) at the beginning and also shared your own thoughts about this work at the very end (epilogue). In your opinion, how essential is it to read and understand both of these sections before diving into the book? Or can a reader just open it to any page in the middle and begin reading?

Response: In my opinion, with any book—especially a book like the Quran—when you open it, the very first thing you need is an introduction to the Quran itself. The Quran is not my creation or my words; it is the word of God. Therefore, it is the Quran that should be introduced.

That is why, in the beginning, I did not introduce my own book or my commentary. I have briefly mentioned the nature of this work in the foreword, but the main introduction (muqaddama) is dedicated to introducing the Quran. I want to convey to the reader, to the student, that they must first understand the nature of the book they are about to read. After all, the real purpose is to teach the Quran, not to use a commentary to express my own ideas. So, when the goal is to teach the Quran, the introduction must be about the Quran.

This is why I saved the introduction to my work for the conclusion at the end of the book (epilogue). This approach pays due respect to the status the Holy Quran deserves in any translation or commentary. In that concluding section (khatma or epilogue), I have explained my methodology: how I approached the translation, which principles I followed, the nature of the commentary, how I used the commentary of my teacher and guide Ustaz Imam as a foundation, how I summarized it, and the nature of my own opinions where I have offered them. You can find that introduction there (in the ‘khatma or epilogue’).

So, the introduction to the Quran at the beginning (muqaddama) and the explanation of my work at the end (khatma or epilogue)—it is essential to read both. If you read them, it will be easier for you to benefit from the book and, if you wish to critique it, to do so from an informed perspective.

Let me clarify again: I am a student myself and have lived my life as one. This translation and commentary is for the students of the Quran. —Transcript Excerpt