Professor Abdul Rahman Tahir Surti

Dr. Jassim Taqui

DG Al-Bab Institute for Strategic Studies

Islamabad, August 28, 2021: I met Professor Abdul Rahman Tahir Surti by chance in 1972 at the Islamic Research Institute(IRI), Islamabad. I never thought at that time I was talking to a giant in the Arabic language and the Tafseer(interpretation of holy Quran). His scope of research was gigantic. It included examining different shades of words meaning, explanation, interpretation based on studying a written text and clarifying its meaning according to the rules of scientific criticism, philology, and ideological tradition, and clarifying what is ambiguous in it or what is a cause for controversy. And Suti was in full command.

Surti showed his genius in his book, Tafseer Mujahid (Investigation of the manuscript of the interpretation of holy Quran by  Mujahid). Ironically IRI refused to publish the book since its Director  Ma’soomi wanted Surti to drop the introduction that was a masterpiece in moderation. Surti himself rejected the condition but the former Emir of Qatar  Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani published the book at his own expense.

Everyone in IRI sympathized with Surti. Dr. Khalid Detlev who was on deputation in IRI by Asia Foundation summarized the story by renaming ng Ma’soomi as “Ma’doomi” which means nothingness.

Surti is a pride of Pakistan and the entire Muslim world. It is about time to honor Surti after death and a chair should be dedicated in his name at the IRI.