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Muslim scholars have laid down certain basic conditions for sound Tafsir.
Ilm-al-Tafsir - Discipline of interpretation
Tafsir (exegesis) of the Quran is the most important science for Muslims. All matters concerning the Islamic way of life are connected to it in one sense or another since the right application of Islam is based on proper understanding of the guidance from Allah. Without tafsir, there would be no right understanding of various passages of the Quran.
Why is it Important?
* Quran is talking about unlimited things to the limited human being.
* It is a human effort and not divine, trying to absorb things that are BIG.
Basic Conditions
Muslim scholars have laid down certain basic conditions for sound Tafsir. Any Tafsir, which disregards these principles, must be viewed with great caution, if not rejected altogether. The most important among these conditions are the following:
The mufassir (commentator) must:
* Be sound in belief (aqeedah).
* Well-grounded in the knowledge of Arabic and its rules as a language.
* Well-grounded in other sciences that are connected with the study of the Quran (e.g. ilm al-riwaya).
* Have the ability for precise comprehension.
* Abstain from the use of mere opinion.
* Begin the Tafsir of the Quran with the Quran .
* Seek guidance from the words and explanations of the Prophet.
* Refer to the reports from the sahaba.
* Consider the reports from the tabi’un.
* Consult the opinion of other eminent scholars.
Grades of Tafsir
* The best Tafsir is the explanation of the Quran by the Quran.
* The next best is the explanation of the Quran by the Prophet Muhammad.
* If nothing can be found in the Quran or in the sunnah of the Prophet, one turns to the reports from the companions.
* If nothing can be found in the Quran, the sunnah and the reports from the sahaba, one turns to the reports from the tabi’un.
However, nothing can match the explanation of the Quran by the Quran and the explanation of the Quran by the Prophet.
Main Schools of Tafsir
The Quran explained by the Quran
The interpretation of the Quran by the Quran is the highest source of tafsir. Many of the questions which may arise out of a certain passage of the Quran have their explanation in other parts of the very same book, and often there is no need to turn to any sources other than the word of Allah, which in itself contains tafsir. To seek to explain a verse from the Quran by referring to another verse from the Quran is the first and foremost duty of the mufassir. Only if this does not suffice, he will refer to other sources of tafsir.
Examples:
‘We sent it down during a blessed night’ (44: 3).
Which night is this blessed night, in which the Quran was sent down?
‘We have indeed revealed this in the lailat al-qadr’ (97: 1).
Another example is the explanation of Surah 2:37 by Surah 7:23:
‘Then learnt Adam from his Lord words of inspiration, and his Lord turned towards him, for He is Oft-Returning, Most Merciful’ (2: 37).
These ‘words of inspiration’ are explained by the Quran as follows:
‘Our Lord! We have wronged our own souls. If Thou forgive us not, and bestow not upon us Thy mercy, we shall certainly be lost’ (7: 23).
The Quran Explained by the Prophet
There are numerous examples of explanation of the Quran by the Prophet, who either himself asked the Angel Gabriel for explanation of matters not clear to him, or who was asked by the Companions about the Quran. Suyuti has given a long list of explanations of the Quran by the Prophet chapter by chapter.
Here one example may suffice:
‘And eat and drink until the white thread of dawn appears to you distinct from its black thread. . .’ (2: 187).
Narrated ‘Adi b. Hatim: I said: ‘O Allah’s Apostle! What is the meaning of the white thread distinct from the black thread? Are these two threads?’ He said: ‘You are not intelligent, if you watch the two threads’. He then added, ‘No, it is the darkness of the night and the whiteness of the day’.
The Quran explained by the Companions
Next, after explanation of the Quran by the Quran and of the Quran by the Prophet himself, ranks the explanation of the Quran by the Companions. Among them, the following were best known for their knowledge of and contribution to the field of tafsir: Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, Ali , Ibn Mas’ud, Ibn ‘Abbas and Abu Musa al-Ash’ari.
The following is an example of tafsir from a sahabi, namely Ibn Abbas, confirmed by Umar:
‘So celebrate the praises of your Lord, and ask for His forgiveness. Verily! He is the one who accepts the repentance and forgives’ (110: 3).
Narrated Ibn ‘Abbas: ‘Umar used to make me sit with the elderly men who had fought in the battle of Badr. Some of them felt it (did not like that) and said to ‘Umar: ‘Why do you bring in this boy to sit with us, while we have sons like him?’
‘Umar replied ‘Because of what you know of his position’ (i.e. his religious knowledge).
One day ‘Umar called me and made me sit in the gathering of those people, and I think that he called me just to show them (my religious knowledge). ‘Umar then asked them in my presence: ‘What do you say about the interpretation of the statement of Allah’.
‘When comes help of Allah, and the conquest . . .’ (110: 1).
Some of them said: ‘We are ordered to praise Allah and ask for His forgiveness, when Allah’s help and the conquest (of Makkah) comes to us’. Some others kept quiet and did not say anything. On that ‘Umar asked me: ‘Do you say the same, O Ibn ‘Abbas?’ I replied: ‘No’. He said: ‘What do you say then?’ I replied: ‘That is the sign of the death of Allah’s apostle which Allah informed him of. Allah said:
‘(O Muhammad) when comes the help of Allah (to you against your enemies) and the conquest (of Makkah) (which is the sign of your death) - you should celebrate the praises of your Lord and ask for His forgiveness, and He is the One who accepts the repentance and forgives’ (110:1-3). On that ‘Umar said: ‘I do not know anything about it other than what you have said’. [Bukhari, Vl, No. 494.]
Tafsir bi’l-ra’y - Tafsir Using the Opinion
Certain precautions to be followed.
* Should still use the text, if available. i.e. the priority, in case there is a textual explanation then, that should be taken
* Should use logic and commonsense
* People who use their brain
* Should keep the totality of the Quran
* Should consider the newly established scientific facts.
Tafsir bi-l-ishara –Tafsir by pointing, indication, signs or gestures
* The condition is there is no disagreement with plain or sound meaning
Tafsir al-ilm – Scientific Interpretation of Quran
* Quran is not a book of science, because science can change.
* Science should be used to sharpen our understanding
Important Books of 1st School of Tafsir – Quran explained by the Quran
Tafsir by al-Tabari (Jami’al-Bayan’anTa’wil Ay al-Quran) 310 A.H
Tafsir by Ibn Kathir (Tafsir al Quran al ‘Azim) 774 A.H.
Tafsir by Suyuti 911 A.H
Important Books with Opinion
Tafsir Al-Kash-shat by Al-Zamakshari 539 A.H
Al Tafsir Al-Kabir by Al Fakhr al-Razi 600 A.H
Modern Tafsirs
Tafsir al-Manar – Muhammad ‘Abduh and Rashid Rida
In the Shade of the Quran - Syed Qutub
Tarjumanul Quran (The Meaning of the Quran) – Abu Ala Mawdudi
Message of Quran – Muhammad Asad.
(The writer is Sr. Advisor, Muslim Public Affairs Council -MPAC)
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