Higher Tafsirul Qur'an Department

The Holy Qur'an is the majestic word of Allah, Lord of the Worlds, and the final revealed scripture. It is humanity's guide, and the source and centre of all knowledge and learning. It is the elixir for a thirsting heart. Allah Himself has honoured this great word of His with the titles Ruh (spirit) and Nur (light). Just as the spirit turns the wheel of life, bringing vitality and capacity for action, so too does the Qur'an guide the wheel of life onto the right path — without it, a person becomes a lifeless corpse. Countless institutions have arisen worldwide to teach the recitation, translation, and Tafsir of this extraordinary book, the Qur'an; and in particular, "Higher Tafsir Research Departments" have been established in various places specifically for Qur'anic research.

With the aim of bringing correct knowledge of the Qur'an to the people of 21st-century Bengal, and quenching the thirst of Tafsir-loving seekers of knowledge, the Higher Tafsir Research Department was launched at Jamia Islamia Obaidia Nanupur in 1436 Hijri, corresponding to 2015 CE. It has run continuously since its founding, producing each year a cohort of capable, skilled Qur'anic exegetes (Mufassirin) who grasp the correct interpretation and essence of the Qur'an.

Activities and features of this department:

1. Instruction by capable, skilled Mufassirin.

2. Building competence in correctly translating and understanding the Qur'an's meaning according to established principles of translation.

3. Building competence in understanding the Qur'an's meaning in light of Balaghah (rhetoric).

4. Dedicated instruction in Usul al-Tafsir and 'Ulum al-Qur'an.

5. Dedicated instruction in Ahkam al-Qur'an (Qur'anic legal rulings).

6. Dedicated instruction on Isra'iliyyat narrations connected to Tafsir.

7. Instruction in Usul al-Hadith and Usul al-Takhrij.

8. Dedicated study of Usul al-Fiqh.

9. Dedicated study of the biographies of the Mufassirin (Tarajim al-Mufassirin).

10. Study of I'rab al-Qur'an (Qur'anic grammatical analysis).

11. Dedicated instruction introducing key reference works (Ta'aruf al-Kutub).

12. Dedicated instruction in the rules of orthography (Qawa'id al-Imla) and punctuation marks ('Alamat al-Tarqim).

13. Regular oversight by teaching staff.

14. Weekly examinations to assess improvement in learning.

15. Each class's lesson delivered with due diligence, every day.

16. Weekly, fortnightly, and monthly seminars.

17. Preparation of a research thesis on a chosen subject.

18. Due emphasis on practising what the Qur'an and Sunnah teach.

The department's aim and purpose is to educate knowledge-seeking Muslim children in the Qur'an, Sunnah, and revealed knowledge, producing a cohort of capable, unwavering people of God in the world — while also building firmness in the way of the pious predecessors, preserving Tafsir, Hadith, and Fiqh according to the creed of Ahl al-Sunnah wal-Jama'ah, and upholding Allah's command in pursuit of His pleasure. This is the department's core aim and purpose.