Module 5 - Tafseer Methodology Qualifications of a Mufassir

Knowledge required to make Tafseer:

1) Arabic language (Word meanings, classical Arabic, grammar, metaphors, etc) 2) UsoolFiqh and Fiqh 3) History 4) Tawheed 5) Reasons for revelations 6) Abrogating and Abrogated verses 7) stories from the Quran 8) Hadith 9) Athaar and opinions of Tafseer scholars 10) Divinely bestowed knowledge

Reconciling between conflicting narrations

1) The more authentic one is considered 2) If both are authentic, the more explicit one is considered 3) If both are explicit, they are analyzed further for hidden defects 4) It is possible that both incidents occurred at the time of revelation of the verse 5) It is possible that the verse was revealed twice.

4 levels of Tafseer

1. Verses everybody can understand 2. Verses that can only be understood by those who understand Arabic, Ghareeb words. 3. Verses that require an explanation of scholars 4. Verses that only Allah knows the true meaning

Students of Ibn Abbas:

1. Mujaahid 2. Sa'eed ibn Jubayr→ 'Ataa ibn as-Saa'ib→ Qays 3. 'Ikrimah→ Muhammad ibn Abee Muhammad Mawlaa Aal Zayd b.Thaabit→ Ibn Is-haaq 4. 'Alee ibn Abee Talhah→ Mu'aawiyah ibn Abee Saalih → Aboo SaalihKaatib al-Layth→ al-Bukhaaree - Some dispute on his authenticity. Bukharee relied on his Isnad 5. Dahhaak:disconnected 6. Al Kalbee-weak narrator

Benefits of knowing about Asbaab An-Nuzool

1. understand the wisdom behind law 2. Shows Allah's concern 3. Protects from misinterpretation 4. Restricts the meanings of some verses that seem general 5. Explains who a verse is referring to 6. Helps learn the explanation of that verse

Tafseer of the Sahaba

A. Four Caliphs, especially 'Alee B. Ibn Mas'ood C. Ubayy ibn Ka'b: Aboo Ja'far ar-Raazee→ Rabee' ibn Anas →Abul-'Aaliyah→ Ubayy D.Ibn 'Abbaas-major one

I'raab

Arabic grammar

Tafseer Methodology

Bil Qur'an -look at relevant verses Bil Hadith - look at relevant Hadiths Bil Athaar - look at relevant explanations and quotations from Sahaba and scholars Bil Lugha -look at the meaning of the words in classical Arabic Ijtihad or opinion based Tafseer that doesn't contradict the first four steps

weak transmissions

Dahhaak-established that he did not meet Ibn Abbaas AlKalbee-weak narrator-whatever he attributed to Ibn Abbaas is weak

Ijtihad

Reasoned interpretation of sacred law by a qualified scholar

Asbaab An-Nuzool

Reasons for Revelation specific occasions verses revealed only obtained through the narrations of the Sahaba does not restrict the application of the verse, just provides its context

Tafseer Bir Riwaayah/Mathoor

Tafseer by narration - focuses on first four steps of tafseer methodology Bil Qur'an -look at relevant versesBil Hadith - look at relevant HadithsBil Athaar - look at relevant explanations and quotations from Sahaba and scholarsBil Lugha -look at the meaning of the words in classical Arabic

Tafseer Bir Ray/Diraayah

Tafseer by opinion - focuses on fifth step

Athaar

explanations and quotations from sahaba

Bil Lugha

looking at word meanings in classical Arabic

Taweel

tafseer, literal: current, occurence (of an item of news or a prediction), result, fulfillment, outcome, best in result, final outcome

ghareeb al Quran

unusual Quranic terms