"Poetic tafseer" refers to the interpretation and explanation of the Qur'an through the medium of poetry.

Traditionally, tafseer (or exegesis) involves scholarly

explanations of the Qur'an, clarifying its meanings, context, and implications. When done poetically, this method might convey the same insights and
interpretations but through artistic, rhythmic, and metaphorical language that resonates emotionally and spiritually with the reader.

Poetry, with its symbolic and evocative power, can bring out the beauty, depth, and subtlety of Qur'anic teachings, making abstract ideas more
accessible or relatable. A poetic tafseer would use rhyme, meter, and metaphor to reflect on the verses of the Qur'an, potentially highlighting:

1. Divine Wisdom: Using vivid imagery to explore the vastness of Allah's wisdom.
2. Prophetic Stories: Narrating the lives of the Prophets and their struggles in a lyrical, dramatic form.
3. Moral Guidance: Reflecting on ethical teachings, using poetry to show their relevance in everyday life.
4. Spiritual Reflection: Deep, contemplative lines that delve into the mystical aspects of faith, such as trust in Allah, reliance on divine will,
and the inner spiritual journey.

Surah Al-Fatiha (The Opening)

Qur'an 1:1-7

In the name of God, the Merciful, the Kind,

The One whose light is in all we find.
Praise be to Him, the Lord of All,
Who lifts us high when we start to fall.

Master of the Day when all shall see,

The path of justice and destiny.
To You alone, we bow and pray,
Guide us to Your straightest way.

Not on the path of wrath or those who stray,

But the ones You’ve blessed with light’s pure ray.
Lead us, O Lord, through every test,
To the way of peace, the way that’s best.

Surah Al-Ikhlas (The Purity)

Qur'an 112:1-4

Say, He is Allah, One and Alone,

A truth as clear as stone on stone.
He begets not, nor is He born,
No beginning to His endless form.

No one can match His majesty,

Beyond all time and gravity.
He stands unique, beyond compare,
In every breath, He's everywhere.

Surah Al-Asr (The Time)

Qur'an 103:1-3

By Time that slips like sand away,

In fleeting moments night and day.
Surely man is in deep loss,
Wandering roads where passions toss.

Except the ones who faith embrace,

Who work for justice, truth, and grace.
They counsel patience, counsel right,
Their hearts are lamps in darkest night.

Surah An-Nur (The Light)

Qur'an 24:35

Allah is the Light of heavens and earth,

In His light all beauty finds birth.
Like a lamp enclosed in crystal pure,
A star that shines with light so sure.

The oil, though untouched, begins to glow,

His guidance flows where winds don’t blow.
Light upon light, it layers and grows,
In hearts of the faithful, His presence shows.

Surah Ad-Duha (The Morning Brightness)

Qur'an 93:1-5

By the morning light, so bright, so clear,

And the night’s dark veil when shadows near,
Your Lord has not forsaken you,
Nor left you lost in skies of blue.

What’s coming soon is better still,

Beyond your tears, beyond your will.
He found you wandering without a guide,
And brought you to His mercy’s side.

Surah Al-Baqarah (The Cow) – Ayah 286

Qur'an 2:286

God never burdens a soul too great,

For trials too heavy for its fate.
What we’ve earned is ours to bear,
What we’ve gained is with His care.
O Lord, forgive, be kind, be near,
Release us from our deepest fear.
Don’t lay on us a heavier load,
Than our hearts can carry down this road..

While this is less common than prose-based tafseer, certain scholars in the Islamic world have used poetry to interpret verses of the Qur'an or to
summarize the meanings of chapters and ayahs. Here are a few notable examples of how tafseer has been done poetically, either historically or in
certain traditions:

1. Tafseer of Allama Iqbal (Indirect Approach)Although Allama Iqbal, a famous poet-philosopher, did not write a traditional tafseer,
his poetry in Urdu and Persian often reflects deep Qur'anic thought and themes, interpreting key ideas from the Qur'an. His philosophical poetry,
such as in works like Asrar-i-Khudi (The Secrets of the Self), touches on Qur'anic concepts such as selfhood, the universe, and God's power.

Example from Iqbal’s poetry that reflects Qur’anic thought:

"Khudi ko kar buland itna ke har taqdeer se pehle,

Khuda bande se khud pooche, bata teri raza kya hai."

Translation:
"Raise your selfhood so high that before every destiny,
God Himself will ask you, 'What is it that you desire?'"

Here, the concept of divine destiny (taqdeer) is interpreted in light of the Qur'anic notion of human agency and trust in Allah.

2. Tafseer in Swahili Poetry (Utendi wa Tambuka)In East Africa, where Islamic scholarship and the Swahili language intersect,
there is a tradition of interpreting and explaining Islamic stories and Qur'anic ideas through epic poetry known as "utendi." One of the best-known
examples is Utendi wa Tambuka, which recounts Islamic history and stories from the Qur'an in a rhythmic, poetic form. While it's not a line-by-line
tafseer, it integrates Qur'anic teachings into poetry that is used for education and spiritual reflection.

Excerpt from Utendi wa Tambuka (Epic of Tambuka): "Hakika ya Allah naye ni wa huruma,
Kwa walio dunia aliwaleta uema."

Translation:
"Truly, Allah is full of mercy,
To those on earth, He brings goodness."

Here, the poetic format presents core Qur'anic ideas (God’s mercy and blessings to humanity) in lyrical form.

3. Classical Arabic Tafseer Poems (Alfiyyah)Some classical Arabic scholars have written instructional poems (often called alfiyyah—
meaning a poem with a thousand lines) to make learning various Islamic sciences, including tafseer, easier. These poems may cover grammar,
theology, or the interpretation of Qur'anic text. A well-known example is Alfiyyah Ibn Malik, which is primarily focused on grammar but overlaps with
the study of the Qur’an since mastery of language is crucial for proper tafseer.

4. The Tafsir al-Burhan by Imam Al-Burhān al-Dīn (Poetic explanations in Persian)Imam Burhān al-Dīn wrote poetry
reflecting on Qur’anic concepts and verses. While the core is still scholarly and intellectual, the verse format makes it easier to memorize and
reflect upon the meanings of different ayahs. This type of poetic tafseer is more didactic and is designed to instruct students in the meanings of the
text through rhyming couplets.

5. Poetic Tafseer in the Sufi Tradition Many Sufi poets, such as Jalal al-Din Rumi or Ibn Arabi, have poetically interpreted the Qur'an.
While not structured as traditional tafsir, their poems delve into the Qur'anic themes of divine love, unity, and the spiritual journey. These poetic
interpretations often carry a mystical tone, focusing on the inner meanings (batin) of the Qur’an.

Example from Rumi’s Masnavi (reflecting on Qur'an 2:186):

"When you are brokenhearted,

Know that God has sent you affliction
So that you may draw near to Him."
This poetic reflection is inspired by the verse:
"And when My servants ask you concerning Me, indeed I am near. I respond to the call of the supplicant when he calls upon Me." (Qur'an 2:186)

1. "Irshad-ul-Muhtadin" by Sheikh Muhammad Karakunnu

This is a well-known and widely studied tafseer in Malayalam. While primarily in prose, Sheikh Karakunnu's work beautifully incorporates poetic
elements to explain the Qur'anic verses in a way that appeals to the Malayali audience. Although not fully poetic, the work's rhythmic language and
use of metaphor often resemble poetic tafseer.

2. "Fathul Mubeen" by Umar Qazi

Umar Qazi (1757-1852), a famous Islamic scholar and poet from Kerala, wrote extensively on Islamic theology and the Qur'an. He is known for his
poetic works that often reflect Islamic teachings. Though Fathul Mubeen is primarily focused on Fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence), his poetic works often
included Qur'anic reflections. Umar Qazi's poems, written in a combination of Arabic, Malayalam, and Tamil, are remembered for how they
intertwined Qur'anic ideas with the culture and language of Kerala. Some of his writings indirectly serve as a form of poetic tafseer by elucidating
Qur'anic messages.

3. "Thafseer Mala"

The "Mala" tradition in Kerala is known for its use of poetic forms to communicate religious and devotional content. Though not always a direct
tafseer of the Qur'an, these poems often reflect Islamic teachings. Thafseer Mala is a collection of religious poetry that touches upon key Islamic
concepts, including stories from the Qur'an and reflections on Allah's guidance. These poems are written in a simple style, making Qur'anic lessons
more accessible to laypeople.

4. "Muhyidheen Mala"

The Muhyidheen Mala is one of the most famous devotional poems in Malayalam, written in praise of Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jilani, a Sufi saint. While
not a direct tafseer, this poetic work often draws from Qur'anic themes of piety, reliance on Allah, and spiritual wisdom. It is a part of the Islamic
poetic heritage of Kerala and demonstrates how Qur'anic ideas can be woven into local traditions through poetry.

5. Sufi Poetry and Quranic Reflections

There is a strong tradition of Sufi poetry in Malayalam, which often reflects the inner meanings of the Qur'an, much like in other parts of the world.
Poets like Moyinkutty Vaidyar (a legendary Malayalam poet) composed long, epic poems that reflect spiritual journeys based on Qur'anic stories
and Islamic teachings. While not tafsir in the classical sense, Sufi poetry often delves into the mystical meanings behind Qur'anic verses, focusing
on divine love, the human soul, and its relationship with Allah.

6. "Qur'an Mala" by Mappila Poets

The Mappila Muslim community in Kerala has a rich tradition of Mappilappattu—a form of devotional poetry. Some of these poems, known as
Qur'an Mala (Qur'anic Songs), are based on Qur'anic stories and interpretations of specific verses. These songs are didactic, used to educate and
inspire, and have been an effective means of conveying the essence of Qur'anic teachings to the masses. Though not a comprehensive tafseer,
they capture the meanings of key Qur'anic themes in a poetic format

Modern Efforts

In recent years, there have been efforts by Islamic scholars and poets in Kerala to revive and modernize the tradition of poetic tafseer in
Malayalam. These efforts are aimed at engaging younger generations by offering Qur'anic insights through art forms they connect with, such as
spoken word poetry or Islamic songs (nasheeds). Scholars in Kerala are also working on creating Qur'anic reflections and summaries in rhythmic,
poetic forms that reflect contemporary issues while staying true to traditional Islamic scholarship.

Conclusion
While the classical tafsir tradition in Malayalam is mostly prose-based, there is a vibrant tradition of using poetry to explain, reflect upon, and
convey the deeper meanings of Qur'anic teachings. This includes works like Mappilappattu, Mala poems, and Sufi reflections, all of which serve as
indirect forms of poetic tafseer. If you're interested, I can help you explore any of these traditions in more depth. Would you like to look into any
particular work or poet?