Qayd Al-Awabid - Al-'Isami (Tafsir, Fawa-id, 'Awa'id & Zawa-id)

"Qayd al-Awabid" by Abd al-Malik ibn Husayn al-Isami al-Shafi'i al-Makki.

Al-'Allamah AbdelMalik ibn Husayn Al-Isami ash-Shafi'i (1049H) wrote this book as a Tafsir, but he focused only on addressing the concept of similarities in the Quran (both in words and meanings) and resolving interpretative difficulties, misconceptions, and seemingly contradictory meanings. Rather than interpreting every verse, he concentrated his efforts on passages that appear to contain contradictions, presenting the issues and resolving them.

He divided the interpretation of each surah into three sections: Benefits (Fawa'id), Returns (Awa'id), and Additions (Zawa'id). In the Benefits section, he addresses complexities and clarifies ambiguous verses. The Returns section contains what the author gathered from studying historical and literary works that benefited his tafsir, including the occasions of revelation and the virtues of each surat. The Additions section consists of poems that contain the meanings and words of the explained verses. One of the book's distinguishing features is that it's rich with citations from rare books, as Al-Isami possessed a vast library from which he both learned and taught.

This edition is based on two manuscripts in the author's hand.  A work of Tafsir Mushkil al-Qur'an (Interpretation of Difficult Qur'anic Passages), it offers insights into reconciling apparent contradictions, includes historical and anecdotal accounts, and additional material on rhetoric and literature.