Tafsir Meshkat

Tafsir Meshkat Author| Mohammad Ali Ansari

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Original title| تفسیر مشکات
Language| Persian
Subject| Qur'anic exegesis
Genre| Islamic literature
Publication place| Iran
Media type| Print (Hardcover & Paperback)

Tafsir Meshkat is an exegesis on Qur'an by contemporary Shia Islam scholar Mohammad Ali Ansari in Persian. The book makes use of old and new Persian poems, as well as history, sociology and other scientific observations, with a focus on the etymology and meanings of the words used in the Qur'an.[1][2]

## Title Significance

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The title "Meshkat" (مِشْکاة) refers to the "niche" mentioned in the Quranic verse of light (An-Nur 24:35), symbolizing a channel of divine guidance. Ansari selected this title to reflect the tafsir’s mission of illuminating Quranic wisdom and guidance for humanity.[3]

## Author and Background

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Mohammad Ali Ansari (born 1964) is a prominent Iranian Shia scholar and researcher. He began the Tafsir Meshkat project around the year 2000 CE. As of 2025, the commentary comprises 40 volumes, with 16 volumes published by Noor Hedayat Cultural Institute based in Mashhad, Iran.[4][5]

## Methodology and Features

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Tafsir Meshkat employs a distinctive approach characterized by:

* Guidance-Centric Interpretation

The commentary highlights the Quran’s primary function as "هدًى للناس" (guidance for mankind), focusing on practical and spiritual guidance rather than purely academic or linguistic analysis.[6]

* Interdisciplinary Synthesis

It integrates Quranic linguistics with Persian classical and modern poetry, historical narratives, and sociological observations to enrich the interpretation.[7]

* Accessible Language

The tafsir uses clear and contemporary Persian to make complex theological and legal concepts understandable, especially in volumes covering Surah Al-Baqarah and its legal injunctions.[8]

Volume | Surahs Covered | Key Themes Addressed

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1 | Al-Fatihah | Quranic hermeneutics
2–6 | Al-Baqarah | Legal injunctions & social ethics
7–9 | Al-Imran | Theological debates
16 | Al-A'raf | Spiritual purification

## Distinctive Elements

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* Incorporates over 1,200 Persian poetic references to illustrate Quranic concepts.[9]
* Each volume dedicates approximately 15% of its content to "applied guidance" sections, demonstrating the relevance of verses to contemporary life.[10]
* Employs a unique verse categorization system focusing on:

1\. Lexical analysis 2\. Historical context 3\. Guidance implications

## Reception

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Tafsir Meshkat is widely used in Iranian hawzas (seminaries) and Quranic institutes. It is praised for making Quranic exegesis accessible to younger audiences by employing contemporary language and incorporating psychological insights. However, some traditional scholars critique it for limited engagement with classical Arabic tafsir literature.[11][12]

## See also

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* Qur'an
* Qur'anic exegesis (Tafsir)
* List of tafsir works

## References

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1. ^ "Hedayat Nour Organization". hedayatnoor.ir (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 2014-04-11.
2. ^ Ahsan Al-Hadis Organization
3. ^ "سوره النور، آیه ۳۵". قرآن کریم (in Arabic).
4. ^ Ansari, Mohammad Ali (1400). مقدمه تفسیر مشکات (in Persian). Mashhad: Noor Hedayat Cultural Institute.
5. ^ "تفسیر مشکات" (in Persian). Noor Hedayat Cultural Institute. Retrieved 2025-04-20.
6. ^ Ansari, Mohammad Ali (1401). "روش‌شناسی تفسیر مشکات". فصلنامه علوم قرآن (in Persian) (12): 50–65.
7. ^ Hosseini, Ali (1402). "نقش شعر فارسی در تفسیر مشکات". مجله ادبیات دینی (in Persian) (4): 110–123.
8. ^ Mousavi, Zahra (1400). "زبان و بیان در تفسیر مشکات". پژوهشنامه زبان فارسی (in Persian). 3 (2): 78–90.
9. ^ Ansari, Mohammad Ali (1401). شعر و تفسیر (in Persian). Vol. 1\. Noor Hedayat Cultural Institute.
10. ^ Rezaei, Mehdi (1402). کاربردپذیری تفسیر مشکات در زندگی معاصر. همایش ملی قرآن و زندگی (in Persian). Tehran.
11. ^ Kazemi, Reza (1403). "نقد و بررسی تفسیر مشکات". مجله نقد علوم دینی (in Persian) (8): 30–45.
12. ^ Jafari, Narges (1402). تفسیر مشکات و سنت تفسیری شیعه (Master's thesis) (in Persian). University of Tehran.

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Tafsīr (Qur'anic exegesis)

Sunni|

* Tanwir al-Miqbas (647)
* Tafsir Mujahid (~722)
* Tafsir al-Tabari (~922)
* Tafsir al-Maturidi (~944)
* Tafsir al-Tha'labi (~1035)
* Tafsir al-Basit (~1076)
* Tafsir al-Wasit (~1076)
* Tafsir al-Wajiz (~1076)
* Tafsir al-Baghawi (~1122)
* Tafsir Ibn Atiyya (~1147)
* Tafsir al-Razi (~1209)
* Tafsir al-Qurtubi (~1273)
* Tafsir al-Baydawi (~1319)
* Tafsir al-Nisaburi (~1328)
* Al-Bahr al-Muhit (~1344)
* Tafsir Ibn Juzayy (~1340]
* Tafsir Ibn Kathir (~1373)
* Tafsir al-Jalalayn (1460–1505)
* Al-Dur al-Manthur (~1505)
* Tafsir Ibn Ajiba (~1809)
* Tafsir al-Mazhari (~1810)
* Ruh al-Ma'ani (~1854)
* Bayan al-Quran (1908)
* Tafsir Zia ul Quran (1918–1998)
* The Holy Qur'an: Text, Translation and Commentary (1934-1938)
* Tafseer-e-Usmani (~1930)
* Tafseer-e-Majidi (1941)
* Ma'ariful Qur'an (~1976)
* Maarif al-Quran (~1982)
* Tafsir Ibn Ashur (~1984)
* Risale-i Nur (1910-1950)
* Safwat al-Tafasir (1980)
* The Majestic Quran: An English Rendition of Its Meanings (1992)
* Tafsir al-Mishbah (2001)
* The Qur'an with Annotated Interpretation in Modern English (~2006)
* Tauzeeh Al-Qur'an (~2009)

Mu'tazili|

* Al-Kashshaaf (~1144)

Shi'a|

* Tafsir Imam al-Sadiq (662~727)
* Tafsir Furat Kufi (~900)
* Tafsir Ayyashi (~920)
* Tafsir Qomi (~920)
* Al-Burhan Fi Tafsir al-Quran (~1067)
* Al-Tibbyan Fi Tafsir al-Quran (~1067)
* Al-Burhan (~1099)
* Tafsir Numani (~1099)
* Majma' al-Bayan (~1150)
* Tafsīr Abū al- Futūḥ (~1199)
* Tafsir Gazur (1377~1341)
* Al-Mohit al-azam (1375~1376)
* Menhaj Al-Sadeghin (~1499)
* Tafsir Safi (~1680)
* Tafsir Noor al-Thaqalayn (~1680)
* Tafsir Shobar (~1826)
* Bayan al-Sa‘ada (~1899)
* Tafsir Novin (1907~1987)
* Tafsir Nemooneh (1926~)
* Tasneem Tafsir (1933~)
* The Holy Quran (1973)
* Partovi az Quran (~1979)
* Makhzan al-Irfan (1877–1983)
* Tafsir al-Mizan (1892–1981)
* Tafsir Rahnama (1976~)
* Tafsir Hedayat (1984)
* Al-Bayan Fi Tafsir al-Quran (1992)
* Tafsir Noor (1997)
* Tafsir Roshan (~1999)
* Al Kauthar fi Tafsir Al Quran (2014)
* Tafsir Meshkat (?)

Ahmadi|

* Haqaiq al-furqan (1914)
* Tafsir-i Kabir (1940)

Others|

* The Message of The Qur'an (1980)
* Fi Zilal al-Quran (1951-1965)
* Tafsir al-Manar (1865-1935)
* Tafhim-ul-Quran (1942-1972)
* Tazkirul Quran (1983)
* Tadabbur-i-Quran (1904-1997)

* List of tafsir works

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