The science of Quran Tafsir refers to the meanings of the Holy Quran, the explanation of the Holy
Quran,
or the historical background of certain Surahs of the Holy Quran.
The science of Tafsir itself is composed of two main parts:
The Tafsir and the Ta’wil
It is essential to understand these two concepts if we want to understand the Quran and practice
upon the Quran correctly in a manner that pleases Allah سبحانه وتعالى. Tafsir and Ta’wil are very close
to each other.
1- Tafsir literally means ‘opening’, ‘explanation’, ‘to elaborate’, to explain in detail’. Therefore, when
the intricate details of the Holy Quran are being discussed or studied then that is known as the
Tafsir.
Authoritative scholars mentioned that the Tafsir refers to the explanations of the apparent wording
of the Noble Quran.
2- Ta’wil literally means ‘interpretation’.
Ta’wil is a different dimension of Tafsir, it means the interpretation of the inference of those Ayahs
like; what are those words implying, how many other lessons do they have for us because every
a single word of the Holy Quran has thousands of implications, meanings, and different lessons that
could be extracted from it.
Allah سبحانه وتعالى has created the system in order to ensure that the Quran is understood in a correct
manner.
Who is the Mufassir of the Quran?
Mufassir is the author of a Tafsir and he is commenting on the Holy Quran. When someone teaches
or shares the Tafsir of the Quran that does not make him a Mufassir because this is not his
understanding of the Quran, he is just translating it from Arabic to English. Mufassir is the person
who wrote the initial work of it.
The implications of The Quran Tafsir
When we study the Tafsir it is really important to understand the implications of Tafsir.
The meanings, laws, and injunctions of the Holy Quran are explained via the science of Tafsir.
Laws are derived via the science of Tafsir. For example, when we look throughout the Holy Quran,
we don’t find a detailed breakdown of the Sunnah method of Wudu’, the number of Rakat of Witr or
Zuhr or Asr salah, all rules of fasting for example if the liquid has to go into a person’s ear what is
the number of fast the person must keep if he does this, or if he breaks a fast because of certain
reasons what must he do. we will not find many of the rules clearly mentioned in the Holy Quran.
we receive those instructions via the science of Tafsir.
The science of Tafsir is greater than we imagined, it is explaining Islam and it preserves the message
of the Holy Quran!
The Authoritative commentators of the Holy Quran
Ibn ‘Abbas reported God’s messenger (ﷺ) as saying, “Let him who interprets the Quran in the light
of his opinion come to his abode in hell.” A version has, “Let him who interprets the Quran without
knowledge come to his abode in hell.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.
In addition, Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “Disputation about the Quran is
infidelity.”
1- The most authoritative commentary of the Holy Quran is the prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). The
statements of the Prophet, his words, his actions all of these are coming together to be the most
authoritative commentary of the Holy Quran. If the prophet has mentioned Tafsir of a specific verse
that means nobody can contradict what he said or question why he said so or say I have an opinion.
The prophet’s opinion cannot be challenged or revised by anyone else as whenever the prophet (ﷺ)
spoke, he spoke with the permission of Allah. Everything he says is from Allah Almighty.
Allah says in Surah An-Najm verse: 3
“Nor does he speak from [his own] inclination.”
2 The Rashidun Caliphs
The first four caliphs (successors) following the death of the prophet Muhammad, namely: Abu
Bakr, Umar, Uthman ibn Affan, and Ali. These four caliphs were the closest of Sahaba to the
prophet (ﷺ).
Their commentary of the Quran also takes precedence over any other person’s commentary. The
four Sahaba hold authority and positions of great merit when compared to the rest of the Ummah.
3- The scholars of the Ummah: Ibn Abbas, Ibn Mas’ud, Zayd bin Thabit (Radiallahu Anhum)
They are the authoritative commentators of the Quran.
The definition of Sahaba is important. As- Sahaba is meaning the companions and the followers of
the prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) who saw or met the prophet during his lifetime and were physically in
his presence.
4- Al Tabi’un: Those who learned from the Sahaba of the prophet (ﷺ). Thus, they received their
teachings secondhand.
They are of a great level of authority because they followed the companions of the prophet and
learned the Tafsir, Hadith, and Islamic law from them.
Sources of The Quran Tafsir
1- The first source of Tafsir is the Holy Quran. As the Quran explains itself.
Every word of the Quran comes from Allah and Allah Almighty is explaining. Let us assume the fifth
Ayah of a Surah is read and we do not know the meaning but somewhere else, we come along and
find another Ayah explaining that one. It is Allah Almighty who is explaining and He is giving us the
Tafsir of that verse.
2- The verses of the Quran take precedence over other sources of Tafsir.
3- Hadith: The words and actions of the prophet Muhammad (ﷺ)
In addition, Hadith must be verified
4- The statements of Sahaba: Acting contrary to the consensus of the Sahabah is not permissible. Is
the case when opinions differ, the principles of Hadith and Quran Tafsir will be used?
5- The statements of Al Tabi’un: Those who learned from the Sahaba of the prophet (ﷺ).
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