تفسیر ابن کثیر اور تفسیر فی ظلال القرآن میں دعوتی رجحان کا تقابلی جائزہ

Abstract

Islamic da‘wah (propagation of Islam) is that fundamental pillar of the faith which, from the dawn of Islam until today, has always remained prominent in both its spiritual and practical significance. With the passage of time, its methods, priorities, and practical requirements have continued to evolve, and this transformation is clearly reflected in the Qur’anic exegesis, as every commentator interprets the Qur’an in light of his intellectual background, ideological inclination, and the social and cultural circumstances of his era. Among these, Tafseer Ibn Kathir and Fi Ẓilāl al-Qur’an occupy a distinctive place, representing, respectively, the classical and the modern trends of da‘wah. Ibn Kathir’s exegesis mirrors the intellectual and scholarly environment of the fourteenth century, in which da‘wah is presented through didactic, educational, and moral perspectives, grounded upon the Qur’an, Hadith, the reports of the Companions, and the opinions of jurists. He emphasizes admonition and moral instruction, especially through the stories and accounts of past nations. In contrast, Sayyid Qutb’s Fi Ẓilāl al-Qur’an reflects the intellectual and revolutionary temperament of the twentieth century, wherein the Qur’an is not confined to a moral code or religious teaching alone, but is introduced as a comprehensive constitution of life and a revolutionary manifesto through which social justice, intellectual freedom, and socio-political transformation can be realized. The present study offers a comparative analysis of the da‘wah-oriented tendencies of these two exegetical works, in order to demonstrate how both classical and contemporary exegetes have highlighted the da‘wah dimension of the Qur’an in their respective contexts, and how, in today’s world, these approaches can be synthesized to form a balanced model of da‘wah. The aim of this study is to preserve the traditional scholarly legacy while at the same time addressing the intellectual and cultural challenges of the modern age effectively, thus providing Islamic movements and contemporary societies with a framework that fulfills both academic and intellectual requirements as well as offers guidance in the practical realm. It is precisely this need that underlies the present comparative examination of da‘wah trends in Tafseer Ibn Kathir and Fi Ẓilāl al-Qur’an, which is hereby placed before the scholarly community.

Keywords: Da‘wah, Qur’anic Exegesis, Tafseer Ibn Kathir, Fi Ẓilāl al-Qur’an, Sayyid Qutb, classical Interpretation, Modern iInterpretation, Comparative Study, Islamic thought, Socio-Political Reform, Islamic Movements.