Just as Tafseer 'Ibn Katheer is the most concise and matchless exegesis from a narrative point of view so also there is no parallel to Tafseer-i-Kabeer (Mafaatihu-l-Ghawybb) in relation to sciences of Reason. Some people have passed a funny remark on this exegesis such as is written in Al-Itqawn, "In it, there is everything except exegesis," But, in the opinion of Mufti Muhammadd Taqee Uthmanee (DB), if this comment applies to any Tafseer, it describes Tafseer At-Tawaahir by Tantawee. But the fact is that this remark is cruelly unjust to this 'book because this book has no equal in interpretation of the meanings of the Qur'an. The prominent features of this book are:The explanation, grammatical composition, and background of revelation, and all the narrations related to them have been described by Imam Fakhru-d-Deen Ar-Rawzee (R'A) in an organised manner with clarity and detail. Thus, the number of sayings in explanation of a particular Ayat are reproduced together and easily observed. In other exegeses these discussions are generally scattered or disorganised, due to which it becomes time consuming. But in Tafseer Al-Kabeer they can be found at one place and very well organised.He has described the grandeur and majesty of the Qur'an in detail.The legal injunctions relating to an Ayat have been described with detailed reasons.Any interpolations introduced by the erring sects and intellectuals in the meaning of any Ayat has been described in full and then refuted with detailed arguments. In this way it contains in it strong refutation of all the erring sects of his time, namely, Jahmiyyah, Mu'tazilah, Mujassimah, Ibahiyyah, etc.A very specific feature of Tafseer Al-Kabeer to which very little attention has been paid is the description of the link between the Ayats of the Qur'an. It is a fact that the reason for a link and affinity between the Ayats as described by him is so casual, appealing and reasonable that not only it imparts a sense of satisfaction but also an ecstatic feeling of elegance and grandeur of the Qur'an.Qur'anic injunctions and their mysteries and expediences have been very beautifully highlighted.Imam Rawzee (R'A) had written this exegesis up to Surah Al-Fath (chapter 048) when he died. Hence, after this Surah another scholar Qawdhee Shahabu-d-deen bin Khawleel al-Khauli of Damascus (R'A) (died 639 AH) or Shaikh Najmu-d-Deen Ahmadd 'Ibbn Al-Qawmooli (R'A) (died 777 AH) completed it. It is so marvellously done and the style of Imam Rawzee (R'A) has been so thoroughly maintained that anyone not aware of this fact would never suspect that this was written by someone other than Imam Rawzee (R'A).In short, Tafseer Al-Kabeer is a very concise exegesis and the personal experience of Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani is that whenever [he has] found a difficulty, it has guided [him] to the right answer. Commonly people get upset by its lengthy discussions, (the exegesis of Surah Faatihah alone has covered 150 pages). It is in the earlier part that the explanation is lengthy but takes on fewer words as it progresses. Priceless gems of knowledge and understanding may be received from it. However, certain things must be kept in mind in connection with this exegesis:The narrations of Tafseer Al-Kabeer, like other exegeses are a collection of good and bad together.Occasionally Imam Rawzee (R'A) has adopted a view different from that of other commentators. For instance, he has rejected the authentic tradition: Ibbrawheem ('A) (Abraham) did not tell a lie except on three occasions. Hence, where he has differed from the accepted view, the established view should be adopted.'Allamah Anwar Shah Kashmeeri (R'A) has said of this Tafseer:"Of all the difficult things in the Qur'an 1 did not find any difficulty which Imam Rawzee (R'A) had not dealt with. It is another matter that sometimes he could not present a solution to the difficulties as could satisfy the soul."And the saying that it has everything but Tafseer is meant only to lower its exalted status, and is perhaps uttered by a person who was overwhelmed by narrations and paid no attention to the depth of knowledge of the Qur'an.Al-Qurtubi (R'A) was a follower of Imam Maalik ibn Anas (R'A)'s school of thought in Islamic Jurisprudence. The basic purpose of this book was to deduce juristic injunctions and rulings from the Qur'anic Ayat but in this connection he has very aptly commented on the meanings of Ayat, scrutiny of difficult words, composition and rhetoric and relevant narrations in the exegesis. Particularly the instructions obtainable from the Qur'an for everyday life have been clearly explained. The preface of this book is also detailed and comprises important discussions on the sciences of the Qur'an.Tafseer 'Ibn Katheer may be regarded as a summary of Tafseer Ibn Jareer. The method adopted by 'Ibn Katheer is Exegesis by narrations, that is, under every verse he has first described a summary of its exegesis, then he mentions whatever narrations and reports are available from the Prophet (S), or the Companions or their followers to explain its various words or sentences. But the earlier commentators viz. Avu Jaf'ar Muhammad Ibn Jareer Al-Tabari, Ibn Mardawayh, Ibn Majah, etc who had followed this method only undertook the compiling of those narrations but they did not scrutinise them. Since Ibn Katheer (R'A) was also an eminent Muhaddith apart from being a commentator, and was well versed in the art of criticism and review, he has done away with those weak and Mawdoo narrations that were being transmitted by earlier commentators and, he has warned about relying on weak narrations. For instance, see volume l, page 77, 213, volume 3, pages 17 to 21, 24 to 89, volume 4, page 508, 519, 520, etc. The books on Exegesis by Narrations are mostly full of Isra'iliyyats. Ibn Katheer (R'A) is extremely cautious in treating these citations and his approach is clean and based on the Qur'an and Ahadeeth. Its detail has already been given under the heading Isra'iliyyats in his own words. Hence, his first approach is that he has not cited many Isra'ili narrations, and if he has done so, he has defined them as Isra'ili narrations. For instance, in Surah as Sawffat he has quoted some reports that indicate that the sacrifice offered related to Sayyiddna Ibbrawheem ('A)'s son Sayyidina Is'haaqq ('A) but he has immediately, clarified: Allah knows better, but apparently all these narrations have been reported by Ka'bu-l-Ahbar in these reports all sorts of things, good and bad, were collected and this Ummah does not need a single word of all those things. (volume 4. page 17) Anyhow, from the narrative point of view Tafseer Ibn Katheer is the most cautious and reliable exegesis. But this does not mean that every narration quoted in this exegesis is correct. At some places Ibn Katheer (R'A) has also quoted weak reports without indicating their weakness. For example, while explaining the Ayat of Soorawh At-Tawbah, he has quoted a report from Tha'labah that is weak according to the Muhadditheen. (volume 2, page 374) Apart from this, he has also cited many sayings of 'weak' commentators, namely Muqawtil. Kalbi, 'Atiyyah 'Aufi, etc. But generally he has quoted without comment only those sayings which are not against any Islamic tenet. Hence, they are not of an authentic nature but only a commentator's own statement.Maulaanaa Sayyidd Yoosuf Binnoree (R'A) has written:One is, Tafseer Ibn Katheer, about which our teacher ('Allamah Anwar Shah Kashmiri (R'A)) used to say, "If any book can make one independent of another book, it is Tafseer 'Ibn Katheer which removes the need for Tafseer Ibn Jareer."Tafseer Abee As-Sa'oodd is indeed a masterpiece work, exhibiting his depth of knowledge, insight, and understanding of Qur'an. It is a magnificent exegesis of the Qur'an in a concise manner. The most prominent feature of this exegesis is that one finds some highly refined, subtle points about the Qur'an, relation of its Ayat, and its eloquence. It allows for an easy understanding of the Qur'an and the excellence of its miraculous style can also be easily recognised.Tafseer Roohu-l-Ma'ani which in my opinion is an exegesis for the Qur'an on the pattern of Fath al-Bari, the exegesis of Sahih al-Bukhari, except that Fath al-Bari is the interpretation of human words. It has paid the debt of the exegesis of Saheeh al-Bukhari on the Ummah. But the Words of Allah are much higher and more exalted for any human being to give its due right.Since this is the publication of latest era, he has tried to gather important discussions of previous exegeses. Hence elaborate discussions have been carried out on language, grammar, literature, rhetoric, jurisprudence, beliefs, etymology, geophysics, astronomy, philosophy, spiritualism, and relevant narrations. An attempt has been made that no scientific and literary problem should remain unanswered. In the matter of reporting of Traditions also 'Allamah Alusi (R'A) had been more careful than other commentators. In this respect it may be called synopsis of the earlier exegeses, and no work on exegesis of Qur'an can do without help from this work.In Urdu language, Maulana Ashraf 'Ali Thanawi (R'A)'s Bayaanu-l-Quran is unique exegesis in respect to its subjects; and its greatness can be felt only when one turns towards it after passing through the voluminous books on exegesis. However, since its language is high flown and technical, general Urdu readers felt difficulty in understanding it.a detailed_exegesis in 8 volumes by the name of Ma'arifu-l-Qur'an which also contains a simplified and summarised version of Bayaan-ul-Qur'an. It contains an excellent interpretation of the Qur'anic injunctions pertaining to present day requirements of life as well as a complete review of the problems of modern civilisation. Of all the books of exegesis that have come out so far in Urdu language this is a unique exegesis in which along with a complete presentation of the ways and ideas of the ancient dignitaries in exegesis, the needs of present time have also been fulfilled in the best possible manner. By the Grace of Allah this exegesis is gaining immense popularity and tremendous benefits are being obtained by its readers.