Abstract
Opposing Views of Mustafa Sabri Efendi on the Subject of Contemporary Turkish Tafsir
Tafsirs are written with the purpose of seeking solutions for people’s problems in the
current times and helping them understand the true meaning of the Holy Qur’an. It has come
to a common consensus that the political, social and financial crisis in the Islamic world
originating from the downfall in the 19th and 20th centuries can be overcome by better understanding the Holy Qur’an and practicing its principles in practical life. The aim of this article, however, is to point out Mustafa Sabri’s doubtfulness and wariness against the pursuit of a perfect contemporary Turkish Tafsir; a pursuit resulting from the aforementioned
ideas. The study aims to contribute to the qualities of future Tafsir endeavors, as well as to reflect the perspective of scholars from approximately a century ago on the concept of Tafsir.
Mustafa Sabri’s evaluations, in particular, as a prominent scholar of his era, is deemed very
important for the purposes of representing the perspective of the Islamic scholars of his era
and presenting information for the qualities of future works of Tafsir. Within this context,
Mustafa Sabri has expressed his opinions about laconism in the Qur’an, scholastic Tafsir,
qualification of the glossator, the target audience of Tafsir and preservation of the Islamic
cultural heritage and faith in Ehli Sunnah.
Keywords
Mustafa Sabri, New, Perfect, Tafsir, Turkish
