نظم الدرر في تناسب الآيات والسور:تفسير البقاعي-العلمية

The books of tafsir are many, each with their own salient characteristics. Some are well-known with various editions available of them, while others are not so famous, with barely an edition or two being available for them.

From amongst these not well-known tafasir is the masterpiece of al-Biqa’i, Nazm ad-Durar. It stands out for focusing on the connection between the ayat and between the surahs, as well as for its focus on balaghah and i’jaz of the Quran.

Allamah Kashmiri’s level in ilm is known to all. His durus were filled with naqd, critically examining every statement before accepting it. A book or author had to be really amazing in order to gain his approval.

His famous student, Allamah Binnori, states:

ثم اعلم أن الشيخ رحمه الله كان يثني كثيرا على "نظم الدرر في تناسب الآي والسور" للشيخ إبراهيم بن عمر البقاعي الشافعي، من أرشد تلامذة الحافظ شيخ الإسلام ابن حجر العسقلاني، وكان يرشدنا إلى مزاياه البارعة، وينوه بشأنه ويقول: لا يوازي خدمته للقرآن فيما أري خدمة غيره له، وهو في ذلك سباق غايات وصاحب آيات بينات. (نفحات العنبر ص40)

His son, Ml Anzar sahib also quotes similar praise from him, adding that this work is unmatched in tafsir and that from all the works authored on balaghah and I’jaz of the Quran, this work is the best of them all. (Naqshe Dawam Pg.347)

Unfortunately, there isn’t any good muhaqqaq print available of this masterpiece. There are copies of the old, difficult to read edition in 22 volumes and this newer retyped edition in 8 volumes.

Good-quality Beirut edition in 8 volumes.