Trends Of Tafsr Among Selected Ulam In Northern Nigeria

This is a study of trends of tafsīr among selected ‘ulamā’ in Northern Nigeria. It examines a variety of aspects in relation to the sciences of tafsīr, the tarjamah (translation) of the glorious Qur’ān and the differences between the two. It also highlights tafsīr in KanemBorno and Sokoto caliphates. The study shows that the level of understanding of the ‘ulamā’ influenced by their philosophical positions, sectarianism and the prevailing political situation made them to interpret the Qur’ān in different ways. Four ‘ulamā’ were chosen as the subjects of this study, namely Shaykh Nāsir Kabara, Shaykh Abū Bakr Mahmūd Gumi, Shaykh ‘Isā Waziri and Shaykh Tāhir ‘Uthmān Bauchi. The study argues that the main focus of Shaykh Nāsir Kabara’s tafsīr are: extraction of historical events in the Qur’ān, interpretation of the Qur’ān in the context of sufism particularly the Qādiriyyah sūfī order, his defence of the ash‘arite creed, his rejection of some isrā’iliyyāt interpretations, and his interpretation of some verses of the Qur’ān in the context of the social condition of people. Shaykh Abū Bakr Mahmūd Gumi’s tafsīr focused mainly on: according high priority to some verses relating to taūhīd, his interpretation of the Qur’ān with the hadīth, extraction of some fiqh aspects in the Qur’ān, interpretation of the Qur’ān to facilitate socio-economic and political reformation and attitudinal changes and his subscription to the salafiyyah trend of thought. The study also discusses that Shaykh ‘Isā Waziri’s tafsīr has the following focus: attaching high priority on the interpretation of verses dealing with some social and economic issues, extraction of some fiqh aspects from the Qur’ān, making reference to aspects of comparative religion, protection of the ash’arite creed and narration of asbāb al-nuzūl and some historical facts of the Qur’ān. Finally, Shaykh Tāhir ‘Uthmān Bauchi emphasized five aspects while interpreting the Qur’ān. These are: interpretation of the Qur’ān with the Qur’ān and the hadīth respectively, extraction of some fiqh aspects, interpretation of some verses of the Qur’ān in the context of sufism particularly the Tijāniyyah sūfī order and his treatment of historical aspects of some Qur’ānic verses.

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