Quran & Tafsir
The Quran
The Quran (القرآن) is the verbatim word of Allah revealed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ over 23 years. It consists of:
- 114 Surahs (chapters)
- 6,236 ayat (verses)
- Revealed in Makki (before Hijra) and Madani (after Hijra) periods
Quranic Sciences (‘Ulum al-Quran)
| Science | Description |
|---|---|
| Asbab al-Nuzul | Occasions/reasons of revelation |
| Makki & Madani | Classification of surahs by place of revelation |
| Nasikh wal-Mansukh | Abrogating and abrogated verses |
| I’jaz al-Quran | The miraculous nature of the Quran |
| Tajweed | Rules of Quranic recitation |
Tafsir
Tafsir (تفسير) is the scholarly interpretation and explanation of the Quran.
Major Tafsir Works
| Scholar | Work | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ibn Kathir (d. 774 AH) | Tafsir Ibn Kathir | Classical, widely used, hadith-based |
| al-Tabari (d. 310 AH) | Jami’ al-Bayan | Most comprehensive classical tafsir |
| al-Qurtubi (d. 671 AH) | al-Jami’ li-Ahkam al-Quran | Strong on fiqh (legal rulings) |
| Ibn Ashur (d. 1973) | al-Tahrir wal-Tanwir | Contemporary, linguistic depth |
| Sayyid Qutb (d. 1966) | Fi Zilal al-Quran | Contemporary, thematic approach |
Methodology of Tafsir
- Tafsir bil-Ma’thur — interpretation by transmitted narrations (Quran by Quran, then Sunnah, then Companions)
- Tafsir bil-Ra’y — interpretation by reasoned opinion (must be grounded in Arabic language and Islamic sciences)
References
- Ibn Kathir. Tafsir al-Quran al-‘Azim. Dar Taybah, 1999.
- al-Suyuti, J. al-Itqan fi ‘Ulum al-Quran. Dar al-Hadith.
- Saleh, W.A. “Tafsir” in Encyclopaedia of the Quran. Brill, 2006.
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