Pearls of the Koran, by Al-Qurtubi

A selection of Quranic verses with comments by Imam Al-Qurtubi

Translated from Arabic under the direction of Tariq Abou Nour

This book is part of a series of works from SELSABIL editions which aim to make known the precious Muslim heritage. Here, it is a major theme: exegesis ( tafsir ) which is the key to understanding the Holy Book: the Koran.

Si Ibn Kathîr and al-Tabarî known in the French-speaking world have compiled stories around each verse. Candalou al-Qurtubî (1214/600 - 1273/671) in his monumental work of exegesis " Al-Jâmi' li Ahkâm-al-al-Qunûn" went further by authenticating the stories and deducing from each verse the articles of law ( ahkâm ) . He is nicknamed by the scholars of this discipline "the imam of the exegetes".

In his exegesis, al-Qurtubî adopted the method of interpretation of the Koran known as by transmission ( at-Tafsîr bi al-ma'thôr) ; that is to say the interpretation of the Koran by the Koran, by the Tradition of the Prophet (peace and salvation be upon him) , by the words attributed to the companions of the Prophet and their disciples through an authentic chain of transmission.

In this book, we have chosen a few verses whose commentaries we have translated. The choice of verses targets essential and topical subjects such as freedom of conscience, the relationship with otherness, noble behavior...

We invite you to "taste" this work which for the first time is finally available to the French-speaking public.

About the Author: Al-Qurtubi
Al-Qurtubi , Muhammad ibn di Bakr born in Cordoba in 1214 ( d . 1273) . an eminent Sunni scholar, referent of his time, a great theologian and a Malikite jurist. It is an essential reference in the Tafsir . He left a large number of works.