The Methodology of Tafsīr al-mubṣir li-nūr al-Qurʾan: The Only Complete Exegesis Written by a Woman (Nāʾila Hāshim Ṣabrī)

Abstract

The importance of this study stems from the lack of a complete Qurʾanic commentary written by a woman, whether in the past or in contemporary times, despite the many important contributions made by women in the fields of education and writing. Women have contributed widely since the first century a.h., and the first of these was our Mother ʿĀʾisha, may Allāh be pleased with her. Despite many contemporary female contributions to Qurʾanic studies, there has been no full exegesis of the Holy Qurʾan written by a woman, with the exception of al-Mubṣir li-nūr al-Qurʾān, by Nāʾila Hāshim Ṣabrī. This paper aims to explore her work by studying her work of exegesis, focussing particularly on its methodology and its academic and social value. This paper highlights that her Qurʾanic exegesis can be categorised as representing the daʿwa social reformist approach, characterised as easy and simple to follow, and focused on the rulings of Islamic jurisprudence and providing explanations for linguistic aspects and vocabulary. It contains no Judeo-Christian narrations (Isrāʾīlīyāt) nor any invented stories that have been wrongly ascribed to the Prophet, may Allāh exalt his name.