✿ My Clarified Position on the Research of Tafsir Ibn Kathir and Other Books ✿
Source: Fatāwā ‘Ilmiyyah – Volume 3 – Miscellaneous Issues – Page 271
These days, the Urdu market is filled with multiple editions of Tafsīr Ibn Kathīr labeled as “researched” versions, some of which mention your name as the researcher or verifier, such as:
◈ Tafsīr Ibn Kathīr published by Maktabah Islamiyyah (Faisalabad/Lahore)
◈ Tafsīr Ibn Kathīr published by Maktabah Qudūsiyyah (Lahore)
◈ Tafsīr Ibn Kathīr published by Fiqh al-Ḥadīth Publications (under respected Imran Ayyub Lahori)
Additionally, there are the following books:
➊ Ṣalāh al-Rasūl ﷺ (Tashīl al-Wuṣūl) by Ḥakīm Muhammad Ṣādiq Sīālkotī (رحمه الله)
➋ Namāz-e-Nabawī by Dr. Shafīq al-Raḥmān
➌ Innovations in Acts of Worship and Their Refutation from the Sunnah by Shaykh ‘Amr ibn ‘Abd al-Mun‘im
➍ Daily and Nightly Life of the Prophet ﷺ (Translation and Research of al-Anwār li’l-Baghawī)
Are all of these your works? Do you endorse their research? Some individuals are misrepresenting your involvement in these books. Kindly clarify.
– Hāfiẓ Nadīm Ẓahīr
الحمد لله، والصلاة والسلام علىٰ رسول الله، أما بعد
I have repeatedly declared the following:
“Only those books are authentic which are either published by Maktabah al-Ḥadīth Hazro or Maktabah Islamiyyah (Faisalabad/Lahore), or those which carry my signature at the end.”
Reference:
◈ Muqaddimah al-Qawl al-Matīn fī al-Jahr bi’l-Tāmīn (p. 12; second edition p. 19; dated: 22 December 2003)
◈ Monthly al-Ḥadīth Hazro, Issue 27 (p. 60, dated: 15 June 2006), and Issue 68 (p. 10, dated: 8 November 2009)
I even published this formal statement:
“After such a clear declaration, what sense does it make for some people to quote works like Namāz-e-Nabawī or Ṣalāh al-Rasūl against me?”
al-Ḥadīth, Issue 68, p. 11
An author has the exclusive right to:
This is known as "Ḥaqq al-Ta‘dīl" (the right to amend).
Only I have this right over my own writings and no one else is allowed to print or modify my works without my permission, revision, and final signature.
Only the following categories of books are genuinely mine and endorsed by me:
① Those published by Maktabah al-Ḥadīth Hazro
② Those with my signed authentication at the end of every edition
③ Those published by Maktabah Islamiyyah (Faisalabad/Lahore) under Muḥammad Sarwar ‘Āṣim ḥafiẓahullāh
Imām Mālik (رحمه الله) used to revise his Muwaṭṭaʾ repeatedly during his lifetime.
Tartīb al-Madārik (2/73), Muqaddimah Muwaṭṭaʾ – Riwayah Abī Muṣʿab (1/35)
Shāh ‘Abd al-‘Azīz Dehlawī wrote:
“Imām Mālik continued drafting his Muwaṭṭaʾ during his life, leading to multiple versions with different arrangements.”
Bustān al-Muḥaddithīn, p. 26
Sarfraz Khān Ṣafdar’s son, ‘Abd al-Quddūs Qārin, stated:
“Scholars know that in evaluating a book, the latest edition holds precedence, since earlier editions may contain errors that the author has corrected later. A true author considers only his final stance valid.”
Majdhūbānah Wāwēlā, pp. 187–188
To all concerned, including Barelvis, Deobandis, and others:
I only take responsibility for three categories of publications:
➊ Those published by Maktabah al-Ḥadīth Hazro
➋ Those bearing my signature on every edition
➌ Those published by Maktabah Islamiyyah (Faisalabad/Lahore) under Muḥammad Sarwar ‘Āṣim
Any other publication or writing outside these criteria is not my responsibility.
All claims made by my opponents in contradiction to these clear conditions are null and void.
وما علینا إلا البلاغ
(15 February 2012)
هٰذَا مَا عِنْدِي وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
Source: Fatāwā ‘Ilmiyyah – Volume 3 – Miscellaneous Issues – Page 271❖ Question
These days, the Urdu market is filled with multiple editions of Tafsīr Ibn Kathīr labeled as “researched” versions, some of which mention your name as the researcher or verifier, such as:
◈ Tafsīr Ibn Kathīr published by Maktabah Islamiyyah (Faisalabad/Lahore)
◈ Tafsīr Ibn Kathīr published by Maktabah Qudūsiyyah (Lahore)
◈ Tafsīr Ibn Kathīr published by Fiqh al-Ḥadīth Publications (under respected Imran Ayyub Lahori)
Additionally, there are the following books:
➊ Ṣalāh al-Rasūl ﷺ (Tashīl al-Wuṣūl) by Ḥakīm Muhammad Ṣādiq Sīālkotī (رحمه الله)
➋ Namāz-e-Nabawī by Dr. Shafīq al-Raḥmān
➌ Innovations in Acts of Worship and Their Refutation from the Sunnah by Shaykh ‘Amr ibn ‘Abd al-Mun‘im
➍ Daily and Nightly Life of the Prophet ﷺ (Translation and Research of al-Anwār li’l-Baghawī)
Are all of these your works? Do you endorse their research? Some individuals are misrepresenting your involvement in these books. Kindly clarify.
– Hāfiẓ Nadīm Ẓahīr
❖ Answer
الحمد لله، والصلاة والسلام علىٰ رسول الله، أما بعد
✔ Clear Declaration
I have repeatedly declared the following:
“Only those books are authentic which are either published by Maktabah al-Ḥadīth Hazro or Maktabah Islamiyyah (Faisalabad/Lahore), or those which carry my signature at the end.”
Reference:◈ Muqaddimah al-Qawl al-Matīn fī al-Jahr bi’l-Tāmīn (p. 12; second edition p. 19; dated: 22 December 2003)
◈ Monthly al-Ḥadīth Hazro, Issue 27 (p. 60, dated: 15 June 2006), and Issue 68 (p. 10, dated: 8 November 2009)
I even published this formal statement:
“After such a clear declaration, what sense does it make for some people to quote works like Namāz-e-Nabawī or Ṣalāh al-Rasūl against me?”
al-Ḥadīth, Issue 68, p. 11❖ Right to Revise One’s Own Works
An author has the exclusive right to:
- Review, edit, and update each edition of their book.
- Correct errors where necessary.
This is known as "Ḥaqq al-Ta‘dīl" (the right to amend).
Only I have this right over my own writings and no one else is allowed to print or modify my works without my permission, revision, and final signature.
❖ Which Books Are Authentic?
Only the following categories of books are genuinely mine and endorsed by me:
① Those published by Maktabah al-Ḥadīth Hazro
② Those with my signed authentication at the end of every edition
③ Those published by Maktabah Islamiyyah (Faisalabad/Lahore) under Muḥammad Sarwar ‘Āṣim ḥafiẓahullāh
❖ Examples from Classical Scholars
Imām Mālik (رحمه الله) used to revise his Muwaṭṭaʾ repeatedly during his lifetime. Tartīb al-Madārik (2/73), Muqaddimah Muwaṭṭaʾ – Riwayah Abī Muṣʿab (1/35) Shāh ‘Abd al-‘Azīz Dehlawī wrote:“Imām Mālik continued drafting his Muwaṭṭaʾ during his life, leading to multiple versions with different arrangements.”
Bustān al-Muḥaddithīn, p. 26 Sarfraz Khān Ṣafdar’s son, ‘Abd al-Quddūs Qārin, stated:“Scholars know that in evaluating a book, the latest edition holds precedence, since earlier editions may contain errors that the author has corrected later. A true author considers only his final stance valid.”
Majdhūbānah Wāwēlā, pp. 187–188❖ Specific Clarifications About Books Mentioned
| Book/Publication | Status |
|---|---|
| Tafsīr Ibn Kathīr – Maktabah Islamiyyah (Faisalabad/Lahore) |  Yes, this is my research. I fully endorse it along with all other books published by Maktabah Islamiyyah bearing my name. |
| Tafsīr Ibn Kathīr – Maktabah Qudūsiyyah |  I have no relation to this edition. |
| Tafsīr Ibn Kathīr – Fiqh al-Ḥadīth Publications | I have no relation to this edition. |
| Ṣalāh al-Rasūl ﷺ (Tashīl al-Wuṣūl) | Not revised by me; not signed by me. I am not responsible for it. |
| Namāz-e-Nabawī by Dr. Shafīq al-Raḥmān | I am not responsible for this research. |
| Nabī Kareem ﷺ ke Layl-o-Nahār (Translation/Research of al-Anwār li’l-Baghawī) |  Only those editions bearing my signature at the end are endorsed. |
| ‘Ibādāt mein Bid‘āt aur Sunnat Nabawiyyah se un kā Radd | Only valid if my signature is found in the edition. |
❖ My Final and Public Declaration
To all concerned, including Barelvis, Deobandis, and others:
I only take responsibility for three categories of publications:
➊ Those published by Maktabah al-Ḥadīth Hazro
➋ Those bearing my signature on every edition
➌ Those published by Maktabah Islamiyyah (Faisalabad/Lahore) under Muḥammad Sarwar ‘Āṣim
Any other publication or writing outside these criteria is not my responsibility.
All claims made by my opponents in contradiction to these clear conditions are null and void.
وما علینا إلا البلاغ
(15 February 2012)هٰذَا مَا عِنْدِي وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
