Manuscript of the keys of the unseen by Ismail Al-Anqrawi from verse (1 to 2) of Surat Yusuf Study and investigation

Abstract

This study presents a critical edition and analytical investigation of the manuscript “Mafātīḥ al-Ghayb” by Ismail ibn Muhammad al-Anqrawi, focusing on the interpretation of verses (1–2) of Surat Yusuf. The research highlights the scholarly significance of this work within the field of Qur’anic exegesis and aims to introduce the author’s personal and intellectual background. Al-Anqrawi is identified as an Ottoman scholar affiliated with the Hanafi school of jurisprudence and the Ash‘ari theological tradition, with a clear inclination toward Sufi thought reflected in his writings. The study also examines his teachers, students, and major works, demonstrating his scholarly status among his contemporaries.

The manuscript is edited according to established academic methods, including the comparison of available copies, textual verification, and proper documentation, alongside referencing Qur’anic verses and Hadiths and clarifying obscure terms. The edited text reveals al-Anqrawi’s interpretive methodology, which combines transmitted knowledge (riwāyah) and rational analysis (dirāyah), with particular emphasis on moral and spiritual guidance. It also addresses his treatment of the disjointed letters at the beginnings of surahs, presenting various scholarly perspectives—ranging from viewing them as part of the unseen known only to God, to interpretations that align with linguistic and rational principles.

The importance of this study lies in reviving and presenting a valuable manuscript, enriching Qur’anic studies and shedding light on the intellectual contributions of past scholars in interpreting the Holy Qur’an.