By Syed Abul-Ala' Maududi

Maududi's translation and commentary on the Qur'an "The Meaning of the Qur'an" ranks as one of the best such works in existence today. Unlike many early translators Maududi uses the standard technique of providing an explanation of the Qur'anic verses from the Sunnah of the Prophet (pbuh) including the historical reasons behind the verses. Below is a list of Maududi's introductions to each chapter in the Qur'an. Unfortunately this represents a very small portion of the six volumes which comprise the complete commentary.

1. Fatihah
Name
Verses
Period of Revelation
Theme
2. Baqara
Name
Sequence
Historical Background
Theme: Guidance
3. Al-i-Imran
Name
The Period of Revelation
Subject
Background
4. Nisaa
Period of Revelation
Topics and Their Background
5. Maida
Name
Period of Revelation
Topics
6. An-aam
Name
Period of Revelation
Occasion of Revelation
Topics
The Background of Makki Suras
Subject :Islamic Creed.
7. Araaf
Name
Period of Revelation
Topics of Discussion
8. Anfaal
Name
The Period of Revelation
Historical Background
Topics of Discussion
9. Tauba
Name
Discourses and Periods of Revelation
Historical Background
Conquest of Arabia
Campaign to Tabuk
Problems of the Period
10. Yunus
Name
Period of Revelation
Time of Revelation
Subject
11. Huud
Name
Subject
12. Yusuf
When and Why Revealed?
Objects of Revelation
Topics of Discussion
Historical and Geographical Background
13. Ra'd
Name
Period of Revelation
Central Theme
14. Ibrahim
Name
Period of Revelation
Central Theme and Purpose
15. Hijr
Name
Period of Revelation
Topics and the Central Theme
16. Nahl
Name
Period of Revelation
Topics of Discussion
17. Bani Israel
Name
Period of Revelation
Background
Theme and Topics
18. Kahf
Name
Period of Revelation
Subject and Topics
19. Maryam
Name
Period of Revelation
Historical Background
Theme and Subject
20. Ta-ha
Name
Period of Revelation
Theme and Topics of Discussion
21. Anbiyaa
Name
Period of Revelation
Subject and Topics
Main Themes
22. Hajj
Name
Period of Revelation
23. Mumineen
Name
Period of Revelation
Theme Topics
24. Noor
Name
Period of Revelation
Historical Background
25. Furqaan
Name
Period of Revelation
26. Shuaraa
Name
Subject Matter and Topics
27. Naml
Name
Period of Revelation
Theme and Topics
28. Qasa
Name
Period of Revelation
Theme and Topics
29. Ankaboot
Name
Period of Revelation
Theme and Subject matter
30. Rum
Name
Historical Background
31. Lukmaan
Name
Period of Revelation
Theme and Subject matter
32. Sajda
Name
Period of Revelation
Theme and Topics
33. Ahzab
Name
Period of Revelation
Historical Background
The Battle of the Trench
Raid on Bani Quraizah
Social Reforms
Preliminary Commandments of Purdah
Domestic Affairs of the Holy Prophet
Subject Matter and Topics
34. Sabaa
Name
Period of Revelation
Theme and Subject Matter
35. Faatir
Name
Period of Revelation
Subject Matter and Theme
36. Yaasin
Name
Period of Revelation
Subject Matter and Theme
37. Saaffat
Name
Subject Matter and Theme
38. Saad
Name
Period of Revelation
Historical Background
39. Zumar
Name
Period of Revelation
40. Mumin
Name
Period of Revelation
Background of Revelation
Theme and Topics
41. Ha-Mim
Name
Period of Revelation
Theme and Subjet Matter
42. Shura
Name
Period of Revelation
Theme and Subject Matter
43. Zukhruuf
Name
Period of Revelation
Theme and Topics
44. Dukhaan
Name
Period of Revelation
Subject Matter and Topics
45. Jaathiya
Name
Period of Revelation
Subject Matter and Topics
46. Ahqaaf
Name
Period of Revelation
Historical Background
47. Muhammed
Name
Historical Background
48. Fat-h
Name
Historical Background
49. Hujuraath
Name
Period of Revelation
Subject Matter and Topics
50. Qaaf
Name
Period of RevelatIon
Theme and Topics
51. Zaariyaat
Name
Period of Revelation
Subject Matter and Topics
52. Tuur
Name
Period of Revelation
Subject Matter and Topics
53. Najm
Name
Period of Revelation
Historical Background
Subject Matter and Topics
54. Qamar
Name
Period of Revelation
Theme and Subject Matter
55. Rahman
Name
Period of Revelation
56. Waaqia
Name
Period of Revelation
57. Hadiid
Name
Period of Revelation

Theme and Subject Matter
58. Mujadila
Name
Period of Revelation
Subject Matter and Topics
59. Hashr
Name
Period of Revelation
Historical Background
Theme and Subject Matter
60. Mumtahana:
Name
Period of Revelation
Theme and Topics
61. Saaf
Name
Period of Revelation
62. Jamu'a
Name
Period of Revelation
Theme and Subject Matter
63. Munafiqoon
Name
Period of Revelation
Historical Background
64. Tagaaboon
Name
Period of Revelation
Theme and Subject Matter
65. Talaaq
Name
Period of Revelation
Theme and Subject Matter
66. Tahreem
Name
Period of Revelation
Theme and Topics
67. Mulk
Name
Period of Revelation
68. Qalam
Name
Period of Revelation
Theme and Subject Matter
69. Haqqa
Name
Period of Revelation
Theme and Subject Matter
70. Ma'rij
Name
Period of Revelation
Theme and Subject Matter
71. Nooh
Name
Period of Revelation
Theme and Subject
72. Jinn
Name
Period o Revelation
Reality of Jinn
Theme and Topics
73. Muzammil
Name
Period of Revelation
Theme and Subject Matter
74. Mudatthir
Name
Period of Revelation
Theme and Subject. Matter
75. Qiyaamat
Name
Period of Revelation
Theme and Subject Matter
76. Dahr
Name
Period of Revelation
Theme and Subject Matter
77. Mursalaat
Name
Period of Revelation
Theme and Subject Matter
78. Nabaa
Name
Period of Revelation
Theme and Subject Matter
79. Naseehat
Name
Period of Revelation
Theme and Subject Matter
80. Abasa
Name
Period of Revelation
Theme and Subject Matter
81. Takweer
Name
Period of Revelation
Theme and Subject Matter
82. Infitaar
Name
Period of Revelation
Theme and Subject Matter
83. Tatfeef
Name
Period of Revelation
Theme and Subject Matter
84. Inshiqaq
Name
Period of Revelation
Theme and Subject Matter
85. Buroof
Name
Period of Revelation
Theme and Subject Matter
86. Tariq
Name
Period of Revelation
Theme and Subject Matter
87. A'la
Name
Period of Revelation
Theme and Subject Matter
88. Gaashiya
Name
Period of Revelation
Theme and Subject Matter
89. Fajr
Name
Period of Revelation
Theme and Subject Matter
90. Balad
Name
Period of Revelation
Theme and Subject Matter
91. Shams
Name
Period of Revelation
Theme and Subject Matter
92. Lail
Name
Period of Revelation
Theme and Subject Matter
93. Dhuhaa
Name
Period of Revelation
94. Inshiraah
Name
Period of Revelation
Theme and Subject Matter
95. Tiin
Name
Period of Revelation
Theme and Subject Matter
96. Iqraa
Name
Period of Revelation
Beginning of Revelation
97. Qadr
Name
Period of Revelation
Theme and Subject Matter
98. Baiyina
Name
Period of Revelation
Theme and Subject Matter
99. Zilzaal
Name
Period of Revelation
Theme end Subject Matter
100. Aadiyaat
Name
Period of Revelation
Theme and Subject Matter
101. Al-Qariya
Name
Period of Reveletion
Theme and Subject Matter
102. Takathur
Name
Period of Revelation
103. Asr
Name
Period of Revelation
Theme and Subject Matter
104. Humaza
Name
Period of Revelation
Theme and Subject Matter
105. Feel
Name
Period of Revelation
Historical Background
106. Quraish
Name
Period of Revelation
Historical Background
107. Ma'uun
Name
Period of Revelation
Theme and Subject Matter
108. Kauthar
Name
Period of Revelation
Historical Background
109. Kaafiroon
Name
Period of Revelation
Historical Background
Theme and Subject Matter
110. Nasr
Name
Period of Revelation
Theme and Subject Matter
111. Lahab
Name
Period of Revelation
Background
112. Ikhlaas
Name
Period of Revelation
Theme and Subject Matter
Merit and Importance
113. Falaq
Name
Period of Revelation
Theme and Subject-Matter
Question whether Mu'awwidhatayn are or are not Quranic
Question of Holy Prophet's being affected by Magic
Question of Reciting Charms and Amulets in Islam
Relation between Sura Al-Fatihah and the Mu'awwidhatayn
114. Naas
Name
Period of Revelation
Theme and Subject-Matter
Question whether Mu'awwidhatayn are or are not Quranic
Question of Holy Prophet's being affected by Magic
Question of Reciting Charms and Amulets in Islam

Relation between Sura Al-Fatihah and the Mu'awwidhatayn
 
Syed Abu-Ala' Maududi's Chapter Introductions to the Qur'an Original source provided by tjangda@infi.net
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