A Comparative and Critical Study of Selected Difficult Qur’anic Verses (Mushkilāt al-Qurʾān) in Sūrat al-Baqarah: An Analysis in the Light of Tafsīr-e-Mājidī and Tafsīr al-Burhān

Abstract

This research paper presents a comparative analytical study of selected interpretive issues from Surah Al-Baqarah in the light of two classical exegetical works: ''Tafsir-e-Majidi'' by Allama Abdul Majid Daryabadi and Tafsir al-Burhan by Allama Abdul Hadi Shah Mansoori. The study focuses on the concept of Mushkilat al-Qur’an, referring to those verses that appear conceptually complex or require deeper interpretive engagement. The research examines selected theological and interpretive themes, including guidance restricted to the pious, divine sealing of hearts in relation to human choice, the concept of divine omnipresence and direction in worship, hierarchical distinctions among prophets, the epistemological question of certainty raised by Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him), and interpretive dimensions related to the sanctity and purpose of mosques. These issues are analyzed through linguistic, contextual, and theological frameworks. The comparative study finds that Tafsir-e-Majidi adopts a detailed, rational, and explanatory approach, often engaging with philosophical and theological dimensions, while Tafsir al-Burhan presents a more concise, traditional, and text-centered interpretation. Despite methodological differences, both exegetes consistently aim to resolve apparent interpretive difficulties by emphasizing coherence, contextual meaning, and the absence of contradiction in the Qur’anic discourse. The study concludes that interpretive challenges in the Qur’an stem not from internal inconsistency but from varying levels of human understanding. A balanced methodological approach combining linguistic precision, theological reasoning, and contextual awareness is essential for engaging with ''Mushkilat al-Qur’an'' in contemporary Qur’anic studies.

Keywords: Mushkilat al-Qur’an, Tafsir-e-Majidi, Tafsir al-Burhan, Surah Al-Baqarah, Comparative Tafsir, Qur’anic Hermeneutics, Islamic Theology, Contextual Interpretation, Epistemology of Certainty, Exegetical Methodology