What is Tafseer of Quran | Different Tafseer and Mufassireen

What is Tafseer ?

In Arabic Tafseer means to reveal or to clarify. Conventionally, clarifying the meaning, guiding principles and full import of Qur'ān is called Tafseer (exegesis).

Mufassireen Meaning

The author of a tafsir is called mufassir whose plural is mufassireen. In other words the Islamic scholars who interpret hadeeth are called mufassireen.

The Qur'ān is Allah's speech and consists of basic principles, fundamentals and details in the form of verses. For the purpose of comprehension, it is necessary to have explanation and description of details. This description and explanation or commentary is called Tafseer and Taweel (interpretation).

For instance, the Qur'ān ordains Iqamatus Salah. But its details like timing form, number of Raka'āt, manner of offering it in Jama'ah etc. are not mentioned in the Qur'ān. Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) has clarified all these issues through his sayings and practices. These clarifications are Tafseer of Iqāmatus salah.

Need of Tafseer

Understanding the Qur'ān completely and acting upon it without Tafseer is difficult. Therefore, explanation of the Qur'ān was included in the duties of prophet (ﷺ).

"And We have sent down to you ˹O Prophet˺ the Reminder, so that you may explain to people what has been revealed for them, and perhaps they will reflect."

-[An-Nahl:44]

 

Hence Prophet (ﷺ) clarified all the instructions and affairs. Every act of Prophet (ﷺ) was practical interpretation of the Qur'ān. Hence when Ayesha R was asked about Prophet's (ﷺ) character and manners, she replied: "His character was that of Qur'an" [Sahih Muslim, Abu Dawood]

From this, it is deduced that the entire collection of Ahādeeth and Seerah (biography of Prophet (ﷺ)) has the status of Qur'ān's Tafseer.

Since Prophet (ﷺ) was a person of the highest integrity and was sinless, any interpretation or explanation of the Qur'ān other than one given by Prophet (ﷺ) cannot be better. Hence that commentary of the Qur'ān which will be in accordance with Ahādeeth narrated by Sahābah R will be the most credible.

Sahābah R and Tafseer

Whenever Prophet (ﷺ) had himself analysed the Qur'ān, he had simultaneously instructed Sahābah R to learn Tafseer so that people may keep pondering over the verses of the Qur'ān and keep spreading its teachings. It was desired that this study may sustain among the people and understanding the meaning and the purpose of the Qur'an may become simple for common people.

Prophet (ﷺ) on an occasion blessed Abdullah Ibn Abbas R saying, "O Allah! Give him insight into faith and bestow the knowledge of Tafseer (interpretation)." Later Prophet (ﷺ) said in praise of Abdullah Ibn Abbas, "You are an effecient interpreter of the Qur'ān." So he became famous as Tarjumānul Qur'ān (Interpreter of the Qur'ān).

Similarly there were numerous other Sahābah R who had proficiency in interpretation of the Qur'ān. Following are a few very famous ones:

• First Four Caliphs
• Abdullah Ibn Mas'ood
• Ubai Ibn Ka'b
• Zaid Ibn Sabit
• Abdullah Ibn Zubair
• Abu Moosa Ash'ari

Exegesis of three illustrious commentators among them have been penned down in the form of books: Tafseer Ibn Abbas, Tafseer Ibn Mas'ood and Tafseer Ibn Ka'b. They mostly comprise of explanations of peculiar and strange terms of the Qur'ān and Ahadeeth regarding verses have been narrated.

Tafāseer by Tābi'een & Taba Tābi'een R

There were circles of study of most Sahabah R for teaching and learning of Tafseer for the benefit of the people.

There is a long list of their pupils of which following ones acquired very respectable position as commentators: Sa'eed Ibn Jubair, Ibrahim Nakha'ee, Mujahid, Qatada, Ikrama, Hasan Basri and Dahhāk R.

They did not write systematic Tafseer but in various Tafaseer their explanations have been quoted by their pupils because their pupils wrote Tafaseer in which they preserved quotations of Sahabah R and those of their mentors. After this, system of writing Tafaseer sprang up.

Some famous Arabic Tafseer

In various periods many Tafaseer were written in different languages. Their estimation is very difficult. However, mention of a few of them in Arabic which are commonly referred would be beneficial:

• Tafseer Ibn Jareer Tabari
• Tafseer Kashshāf
• Tafseer Kabeer
• Tafseer Baidāwi
• Tafseer Ibn Kaseer
• Sawā tiul Ilhām

Some tafseer in English

• Hashiya Usmani by Shabeer Ahmad Usmani
• Tafheemul Qur'ān by Sayed Abul A'ala Maududi
• The Holy Qur'ān by Abdullah Yusuf Ali
• Da'watul Qur'ān, by Shamsh Peerzada
• Tafseer Mājidi by Abdul Majid Daryabadi
• Commentary on the Holy Qur'an by Abdul Haq
• The Noble Qurān by Taqiudding Hilali.

A word of caution

All Tafaseer have diverse qualities in themselves and some are more distinguished from others in certain respects. We must benefit from these qualities.

Since these are human efforts, it is likely that there would be some flaws and errors as well. We must be cautious wherever we perceive them. One fact must not be forgotten that all these Tafaseer have been written for our help and convenience; otherwise our actual duty is to study the Qur'ān directly and try to understand it. If at some place, it is not understood then we should consult Islamic Scholars.

The holy Quran says:

"So ask the people of the message (i.e., former scriptures) if you do not know."

-[An-Nahl:43] 

 

This way we can benefit more from the Qur'ān. We must continue our efforts in this direction.

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Allah and his messenger knows best