Tafsir
Tafsir
Roxann Dawson
<catset>Category="Islamic texts"</catset>A <b>tafsir</b> ( (<a href="Arabic language">Arabic</a>: <b><font face='Arial Unicode MS,Code2000'>&#1578;&#1601;&#1587;&#1610;&#1585;</font> </b>)<i>tafs&#299;r</i>, also <a href="Transliteration">transliterated</a> <b>tafseer</b>, <a href="Arabic language">Arabic</a> "explanation") is <a href="Qur'an">Qur'anic</a> exegesis or commentary.  Someone who writes tafsir is a mufassir ( (<a href="Arabic language">Arabic</a>: <b> <font face='Arial Unicode MS,Code2000'>&#1605;&#1601;&#1587;&#1585;</font> </b>) <i>mufassir</i>, plural (<a href="Arabic language">Arabic</a>: <b><font face='Arial Unicode MS,Code2000'>&#1605;&#1601;&#1587;&#1585;&#1610;&#1606;</font> </b>)  <i>mufassir&#299;n</i>).<h2 style="margin: 0; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0.17em; border-bottom: 1px solid #aaaaaa; font-size: 150%;">Sources of Tafsir</h2>The five sources for commentary of the <a href="Qur'an">Qur'an</a> are: <ol> <li>  The Qur'an.     This is the highest form of tafsir, because the Qu'ran explains itself. <li>  The <a href="Hadith">Hadith</a>.  <a href="Muslim">Muslims</a> believe that the <a href="Muhammad">Muhammad</a> was sent to explain and clarify the Qur'an to people.  The books of the Hadith contain much tafsir of the Qur'an, under titles such as "Meaning of Qur'anic verses".  This is the second highest form of tafsir, because the Islamic prophet is explaining it. <li>  The reports of the <a href="Sahaba">Sahaba</a>.  The Sahaba, or companions of Muhammad, knew Muhammad would have better insight into the Qur'an.  If there is a consensus of the companions on a certain verse, then that consensus is followed. If there is no consensus, scholars interpret the verse using set principles. <li>  The reports of those who learned from the companions.  These people grew up in an environment with people who had known the Prophet, so their insight is the next in line of the sources of tafsir. <li>  Reason.  The use of reason (deductive logic and evaluation of arguments) is the final method of understanding the Qur'an. </ol><h2 style="margin: 0; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0.17em; border-bottom: 1px solid #aaaaaa; font-size: 150%;">Genres of Tafsir</h2><ul> <li> <a href="Asbab al-nuzul">Asb&#257;b al-nuz&#363;l</a>: defining the "occasions of revelation" of the <a href="Sura">suras</a>. <li> <a href="Naskh (exegesis)">Naskh</a>: dealing with the abrogation of one Qur'anic verse by another. </ul><h2 style="margin: 0; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0.17em; border-bottom: 1px solid #aaaaaa; font-size: 150%;">Prohibited Tafsir</h2>It is prohibited to perform Qur'anic tafsir using solely one's own opinion. This is based on the authenticated hadith of Muhammad which states it is prohibited.<h2 style="margin: 0; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0.17em; border-bottom: 1px solid #aaaaaa; font-size: 150%;">Major Mufassireen</h2>Major Tafsirs of the Qur'an include:<ul><li><a href="Ibn Kathir">Ibn Kathir</a>: "<a href="Tafsir ibn Kathir">Tafsir ibn Kathir</a>" - A classic tafsir, considered a summary of the earlier Tafseer by Ibn Jarir (at-Tabari). It is especially popular because it uses '<a href="Hadith">Hadith</a>' to explain each verse and chapter of the <a href="Qur'an">Qur'an</a>. </ul><ul><li>Imam Fakhr ud-Deen ar-Razi: "Mafateeh ul Ghayb" also known as "Tafsir Kabir" - A voluminous work covering many aspects including science and medicine. <a href="Ibn Taymiya">Ibn Taymiyyah</a> once critically said of this tafsir that it "contains everything but tafsir". </ul><ul><li>Qazi Abu Saud al-Hanafi: "Irshad ul Aql as-Saleem ila Mazaya al-Qur'an al-Kareem" also known as "Tafsir Abu Saud". </ul><ul><li>Imam Abu Abdullah al-Qurtabi: "al-Jami' li Akam il-Qur'an" by the famous <a href="Maliki">Maliki</a> Jurist of <a href="Córdoba, Spain">Cordoba</a>. This 10-volume tafsir is a commentary on the <a href="Qur'an">Qur'anic</a> verses dealing with legal issues. Although the authour was a <a href="Maliki">Maliki</a> he also presents legal opinions of other major schools of <a href="Islam">Islamic</a> jurisprudence; thus it is popular with jurists from all of the schools of <a href="Islam">Islamic</a> law. One volume of this tafsir was translated into English by Aisha Bewley. </ul><ul><li>Qazi Abu Bakr ibn al-Arabi: "Akam al-Qur'an" - Known as 'Qazi ibn al-Arabi' (ibn Arabi the judge)to distinguish him from the famous <a href="Sufism">Sufi</a> <a href="Ibn Arabi">Ibn Arabi</a>, he was a <a href="Maliki">Maliki</a> jurist from Andalusia (<a href="Muslim">Muslim</a> <a href="Spain">Spain</a>) His tafsir was published in 3 volumes and contains commentary on the legal rulings of the <a href="Qur'an">Qur'an</a> according to the <a href="Maliki">Maliki</a> school. </ul><ul><li>al-Jasas: "Akam al-Qur'an" - Based on the legal rulings of the [[Hanafi] school of <a href="Sharia">Islamic law</a>. This was published in 3 volumes and remains popular amongst the <a href="Hanafi">Hanafis</a> of <a href="India">India</a>, the <a href="Middle East">Middle East</a> and <a href="Turkey">Turkey</a>. </ul><ul><li>Allama Mahmood Alusi al-Hanafi: "Tafsir Ruh ul Ma'ani fi Tafsir il Qur'an al-Azim wa Saba' al-Mathani" - Also known as Ruh ul Ma'ani. </ul><ul><li><a href="Al-Ghazali">Imam Al-Ghazali</a>: "A Thematic Commentary of the <a href="Qur'an">Qur'an</a>" - Another classic tafsir by a great Sunni Imam who practiced tawassuf (the act of <a href="Sufism">Sufism</a>, not the <a href="Sufism">Sufi</a> sect). </ul><ul><li><a href="Allameh Tabatabaei">Allama Tabataba'i</a>: <a href="Tafsir al-Mizan">Tafsir Al-Mizan</a> - A 20-volume work using the methodology of explaining the <a href="Qur'an">Qur'an</a> through the <a href="Qur'an">Qur'an</a>. </ul><ul><li>Ismail Hakki Bursevi: "Ruh al-Bayan" - 10-volume Arabic work by the founder of the Hakkiyye <a href="Jelveti">Jelveti</a> <a href="Sufism">Sufi</a> order. </ul><ul><li>Ibn Ajibah: "Tafsir ibn Ajibah" - 2-volume work by Sidi ibn Ajibah, a <a href="Morocco">Moroccan</a> <a href="Shaikh">Sheikh</a> of the Darqarwi <a href="Shadhili">Shadhili</a> <a href="Sufism">Sufi</a> order. </ul><ul><li>"Tafsir al-Baghwi" - A popular tafsir amongst <a href="Sunni Islam">Sunni</a> <a href="Muslim">Muslims</a>. </ul><ul><li>"Tafsir al-Baydawi" - Shortened version of the above tafsir printed in 2 volumes. In <a href="Turkey">Turkey</a> it is often published with marginal notes by an unknown <a href="Ottoman Empire">Turkish</a> <a href="Shaikh">Sheikh</a> called 'Konyawi' in 7 volumes. </ul><ul><li>"Tafsir ibn Atiyyah" - A tafsir popular in North West Africa. </ul><ul><li>"Tafsir <a href="Sibt ibn al-Jawzi">ibn al-Jawzi</a>" - Written by the great <a href="Hanbali">Hanbali</a> polymath. </ul><ul><li>"Tafsir an-Nasafi" - Written by the great <a href="Hanafi">Hanafi</a> theologian Nasafi and published in 2 volumes. </ul><ul><li>"Tafsir Abu Hayyan" also called "Bahr al-Muhit" - This tafsir is in several volumes and contains many stories that some commentators consider to be unreliable. However, it is popular in North Africa as it origiated from Andalusia. </ul><ul><li>"Tafsir Jalalayn" - The great <a href="Shafi'i">Shafi</a> <a href="Shaikh">Sheikh</a> Jalal ud-Din Siyuti wrote 2 tafsirs - one named "Jalalayn" and the other "ad-Durr al-Munu'r". Both are published (the second in several volumes) and the Jalalayn is very popular with <a href="Muslim">Muslims</a> all over the world due to its simplicity. </ul><h2 style="margin: 0; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0.17em; border-bottom: 1px solid #aaaaaa; font-size: 150%;">Modernist Mufassireen</h2><ul><li><a href="Sayyid Qutb">Sayyed Qutb</a>:  In the Shade of the Qu'ran - Many praise it as a modern tafsir of the Qur'an. However, many critics including some <a href="Wahhabism">Wahhabi</a> and <a href="Salafi">Salafi</a> scholars say that Qutb had little Islamic knowledge and did tafsir in his own opinion. It has also been attacked for not containing the classical tafsir style (using the above mentioned sources). </ul><ul><li><a href="Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi">Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi</a>: <font color=#700070> Tafheem ul Quraan</font> - One of the most widely read Tafsir, is another relatively modern exegesis of the Quran. It is written mostly for the general public with a view to relate the Islamic teachings to all sphere's of life. It is criticized for its free style explanations. </ul><h2 style="margin: 0; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0.17em; border-bottom: 1px solid #aaaaaa; font-size: 150%;">Tafsir in other languages</h2>Tafsir was almost always written in <a href="Arabic language">Arabic</a> but during the 20th century with the emergence of modern states, the need was felt by <a href="Muslim">Muslims</a> to write commentaries in local languages so that those who do not know Arabic can still have access to the meaning of the <a href="Qur'an">Qur'an</a>.<p>The following are a list of tafsirs that have been written in non-Arabic languages.<ul><li><a href="Turkish language">Turkish</a> </ul><ul><li>Elmalili tefsir </ul><p>Published in 10 volumes it remains the most popular tafsir in the <a href="Turkish language">Turkish language</a>.<ul><li>Omar Bilmen  </ul><p>Author of an 8-volume tafsir. The language used is an old form of Turkish that many Turks find difficult to understand.<ul><li>Konyali Tefsir </ul><p>A voluminous tafsir written in simple language but less popular than the Elmalili tafsir.<h2 style="margin: 0; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0.17em; border-bottom: 1px solid #aaaaaa; font-size: 150%;">External links</h2><ul> <li><font color=#700070> Tafseer Ibn Kathir</font> <li><font color=#700070> Tafsir from the Hadith themselves</font> <li><font color=#700070> Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi - Tafheem ul Quran</font> <li><font color=#700070> Sayyed Qutb - In the Shade of the Qur'an</font> <li><font color=#700070> Various Tafsirs</font> <li><font color=#700070> Salafi/Wahhabi Tafsir</font> <li><font color=#700070> Selected Tafsirs from a Salafi standpoint</font> <li><font color=#700070> Audio Tafsir of the Qur'an in English from a Sunni standpoint</font> <li><font color=#700070> Altafsir.com</font> <li><font color=#700070> Al-Mizan - Allamah Tabatabai's tafsir of the qur'an</font> <li><font color=#700070> Tafsir of selected verses</font> </ul><p>"Shi'a Tafsir link needed."