Tafsir Mazhari: An Intellectual and Exegetical Legacy in the South Asian Tafsir Tradition

Abstract

Tafsir Mazhari, authored by Qadi Thanaullah Panipati (d. 1225 AH/1810 CE), stands as one of the most significant works of Qur’anic exegesis produced in South Asia. This paper explores Tafsir Mazhari as an intellectual and exegetical legacy within the broader tafsir tradition of the region. The study highlights the exegete’s balanced methodology, which integrates classical sources such as Qur’anic intertextuality, Prophetic traditions, reports of the Companions, and consensus of scholars, while also engaging with jurisprudential reasoning, linguistic analysis, and Sufi thought. Distinctive features of this tafsir include its clarity of expression, reliance on authentic hadith, extensive discussion of Hanafi jurisprudence, incorporation of linguistic and grammatical insights, and attention to variant Qur’anic readings. The work also demonstrates methodological moderation, avoiding unnecessary polemics while presenting comparative perspectives of different schools of thought. Despite occasional reliance on weak narrations and inclusion of Isra’iliyyat, the tafsir remains a highly influential scholarly contribution. By situating Tafsir Mazhari within the intellectual history of South Asia, this paper argues that it not only reflects the exegetical principles of its time but also continues to serve as a valuable resource for understanding the intersection of law, theology, spirituality, and linguistic inquiry in the Qur’anic tradition.