Researcher Asmaa Abdullah Ahmed Al-Hamzi was awarded a Master’s Degree in Tafsir and Quranic Sciences with Distinction for her thesis titled: Tuhfat Ikhwan al-Safa wa al-Insaf, Al-Muntaza' min Tafsiray Al-Sharafi and Al-Kashshaf, by Al-Allamah Al-Sayyid Abdulkarim Abdullah Mohammed Ahmed Al-Imam Abu Talib (d. 1309 AH): A Critical Study and Investigation of Chapter Three on Surah Al-A‘raf and Surah Al-Anfal, which was submitted to the Department of Islamic Studies, Faculty of Arts and Humanities – Sana’a University. The MA defense was held on Tuesday, October 6, 2026.
The MA Viva-voce Committee, which was formed based on a resolution issued by the Graduate Studies and Scientific Research Council, consisted of the following:
• Assoc. Prof. Ali Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ashmouri – Amran University – External Examiner and Chair.
• Prof. Mohammed Yahya Al-Ma’khedhi – Sana’a University – Main Supervisor and Committee Member.
• Dr. Hassan Ali Al-Saruri – Sana’a University – Internal Examiner and Committee Member.
The study aimed to introduce the author, the distinguished scholar Al-Sayyid Abdulkarim bin Abdullah Abu Talib, and examine his historical context and scholarly methodology. It also sought to produce an accurate scholarly edition of the manuscript in accordance with established principles of textual editing and verification.
The study concluded that Tuhfat Ikhwan al-Safa wa al-Insaf, Al-Muntaza' min Tafsiray Al-Sharafi and Al-Kashshaf is a rich scholarly work that brings together the views and interpretations of several Qur’anic exegetes. It also represents an important example of the Zaydi school of Qur’anic exegetes and addresses various issues related to correcting doctrinal beliefs and responding to certain ideas and cultural influences originating outside the sources of the Islamic scholarly heritage.
Based on these findings, the researcher recommended seeking out Yemeni Islamic heritage manuscripts in Qur’anic exegetes and other religious sciences and preparing critical editions of these works to support Islamic studies. The study also recommended encouraging researchers to edit and publish the remaining parts and sections of the manuscript, as well as organizing, classifying, and cataloging Yemeni manuscripts to facilitate researchers’ selection of suitable texts, access to them, and use of them in scholarly research.
The thesis defense was attended by faculty members, researchers, students, and interested participants as well as the researcher's colleagues and family members.
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https://youtu.be/2Oz6JLKILlM?feature=shared
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