Tafseer
Understand the Quran: its meanings, methodology, and masters
What is Tafseer?
Tafseer (التفسير) is the science of explaining the meanings of the Quran: its vocabulary, context of revelation, rulings, and lessons. It is how the Ummah has preserved the understanding of the Book across fourteen centuries, rooted in the Prophet ﷺ, his Companions, and the scholars who followed them.
“A Book which We have revealed to you, full of blessings, so that they may ponder over its verses, and that those of understanding may be reminded.”
Surah Sad 38:29
“Do they not reflect on the Quran? Or are there locks upon their hearts?”
Surah Muhammad 47:24
“The best among you are those who learn the Quran and teach it.”
Sahih al-Bukhari 5027
Types of Tafseer
Scholars classify tafseer into three broad approaches based on the source of explanation.
Tafseer bil-Ma'thur
Tafseer by transmitted narration
Explaining the Quran through the Quran itself, the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ, and the statements of the Companions and Tabi'in. This is the most authoritative method.
Examples: Tafsir at-Tabari • Tafsir Ibn Kathir • Tafsir al-Baghawi
Tafseer bil-Ra'y
Tafseer by reasoned opinion
Explaining the Quran using ijtihad grounded in authentic knowledge: Arabic language, context of revelation, usool al-fiqh, and established principles. Acceptable when rooted in tradition, rejected when speculative.
Examples: Tafsir al-Qurtubi (blended) • Tafsir ar-Razi • Tafsir al-Baydawi
Tafseer bil-Ishari
Indicative or spiritual tafseer
Drawing out subtle spiritual meanings beyond the apparent text. Accepted by scholars only when it does not contradict the clear meaning and is treated as a reflection rather than a definitive explanation.
Examples: Used cautiously by scholars, not a primary source
Usool at-Tafseer
The classical method every reliable mufassir follows, in order of priority.
The Quran explains the Quran
The clearest tafseer of a verse is found in another verse. What is summarized in one place is often detailed elsewhere.
The Sunnah explains the Quran
The Prophet ﷺ was sent to clarify the Book. His statements, actions, and approvals are the second source of tafseer.
The Companions' understanding
They witnessed the revelation, knew the context, and spoke classical Arabic natively. Ibn Abbas, Ibn Mas'ud, and Ali رضي الله عنهم are the foremost.
The Tabi'in's understanding
Students of the Companions like Mujahid, Qatadah, and al-Hasan al-Basri. Their tafseer is accepted when they agree, and weighed carefully when they differ.
The Arabic language
The Quran was revealed in clear Arabic. Classical poetry, grammar, and rhetoric are used to understand word meanings, idioms, and style.
Which Book Should I Start With?
A comparison of the three tafaseer featured in our library.
Tafseer As-Sa'di
BeginnerShaykh Abd al-Rahman as-Sa'di (d. 1376 AH)
Best for: First-time readers and daily study
Concise, clear, and focused on the lessons and guidance of each passage. Written in an easy style without heavy technical discussion. Perfect for someone who wants to understand the Quran page by page.
- •Easy to read, no Arabic grammar background needed
- •Focuses on practical lessons and guidance
- •Organized verse by verse, cover to cover
Tafsir Ibn Kathir
IntermediateImam Ibn Kathir (d. 774 AH)
Best for: Students wanting the classical narration-based method
The gold standard of Tafseer bil-Ma'thur. Explains each verse using other verses, hadith, and statements of the Companions. Longer and more detailed than As-Sa'di.
- •Rich in authentic hadith and narrations
- •Shows how verses explain each other
- •The most widely taught classical tafseer in Sunni tradition
Tafsir al-Qurtubi
AdvancedImam al-Qurtubi (d. 671 AH)
Best for: Readers interested in rulings (ahkam) and fiqh
A massive, jurisprudence-focused tafseer titled Al-Jami' li-Ahkam al-Quran. Every verse with legal implications is explored in depth, with scholarly opinions from all four madhahib and beyond.
- •Exhaustive treatment of verses on ahkam (rulings)
- •Surveys differences of opinion across madhahib
- •Strong in Arabic grammar and qira'at (variant readings)
Side-by-Side Comparison
The three featured tafaseer at a glance.
| As-Sa'di | Ibn Kathir | Al-Qurtubi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level | Beginner | Intermediate | Advanced |
| Length | ~1 volume (concise) | 10 volumes | 20+ volumes (abridged to 4 in English) |
| Primary focus | Guidance & benefits | Narration-based (hadith, Salaf) | Rulings (ahkam) & fiqh |
| Language difficulty | Simple & direct | Moderate | Dense & technical |
| Arabic needed? | Not required | Helpful | Strongly recommended |
| Use it for | Daily reading | Deep study | Research & legal questions |
| Typical reader | Layperson or new student | Serious student of knowledge | Scholar or jurisprudence student |
See Them in Action
How each mufassir approaches the same verse.
Surah Al-Fatihah 1:6
اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ
“Guide us to the straight path.”
As-Sa'di
Practical & concise
The 'straight path' is the clear road that leads to Allah and to His Paradise: knowledge of the truth and acting upon it. We ask Allah for guidance to it and firmness on it until we meet Him, since our hearts turn and no one can hold them firm except Him.
Read moreIbn Kathir
Narration-based
The mufassirun from the Companions and Tabi'in explained the 'straight path' as the Book of Allah, Islam, the path of the Prophet ﷺ and those with him, and the path of Abu Bakr and Umar. All of these are correct; they describe the same reality from different angles, as narrated by Ibn Abbas, Ibn Mas'ud, and others.
Read moreAl-Qurtubi
Linguistic & juristic
Linguistically, 'siraat' means a wide, clear road, derived from the root meaning 'to swallow,' because it takes in travelers. The scholars discuss the variant readings of the word and its grammatical form, and conclude that the 'straight path' is Islam in its entirety: the beliefs, the acts, and the path of the Salaf.
Read moreSummaries paraphrased from the respective tafaseer. Consult the full text for complete discussion.
Tafseer Books in the Library
All volumes are available in the Quran Studies section.
Famous Mufassirun
The scholars whose works shaped the tafseer tradition.
Imam at-Tabari
224–310 AH
The father of tafseer
Author of Jami' al-Bayan, the earliest comprehensive tafseer that preserved the statements of the Salaf. Nearly every later mufassir draws from him.
Imam Ibn Kathir
701–774 AH
Student of Ibn Taymiyyah
A hadith master and historian. His tafseer is famous for carefully selecting authentic narrations and interpreting the Quran by the Quran and Sunnah.
Imam al-Qurtubi
c. 600–671 AH
Master of ahkam al-Quran
Andalusian Maliki scholar. His tafseer is the reference for legal implications of verses, quoting extensively across all schools of thought.
Shaykh As-Sa'di
1307–1376 AH
The teacher of clear tafseer
Najdi scholar from the modern era. His Taysir al-Karim al-Rahman is celebrated for simple language and drawing out practical benefits from each verse.
Shaykh Ash-Shinqiti
1325–1393 AH
Master of 'Quran by Quran'
Author of Adwa' al-Bayan, a monumental tafseer dedicated to explaining each verse using other verses. The purest expression of the first principle of usool at-tafseer.
Further Resources
Video playlists and online tools for reading tafseer alongside the Arabic text.
Al Madrasatu Al Umariyyah
Long-form video tafseer playlist on YouTube.
Quran.com
Read the Quran online with multiple English translations and tafseer (Ibn Kathir, Ma'arif ul-Qur'an, and more) displayed beneath each verse.
Tafsirq.com
Browse the Quran alongside Ibn Kathir, As-Sa'di, Tanwir al-Miqbas, and Muyassar, side by side.
Altafsir.com
One of the largest online tafseer collections, including classical and modern works across multiple languages.
Bayyinah TV
Video tafseer and Arabic language courses by Shaykh Nouman Ali Khan. Subscription-based with some free content.
Common Questions
Do I need to know Arabic to benefit from tafseer?+
No. Solid English translations of classical tafaseer (like As-Sa'di and Ibn Kathir) make the core meanings accessible. That said, even basic Arabic dramatically deepens your understanding. Many verses turn on a word, a grammatical form, or a rhetorical device that translation flattens.
Which tafseer should I read first?+
Start with Tafseer As-Sa'di. It is concise, clearly written, and focused on guidance rather than technical debates. Once you've worked through it, move to Ibn Kathir for depth, and reference al-Qurtubi for verses with legal rulings.
Can I trust tafseer videos on YouTube?+
Some are excellent, others are unreliable. Stick to teachers who cite classical sources, name the scholars they draw from, and do not push personal opinions as tafseer. When in doubt, cross-check what you hear against a classical written tafseer.
Is it wrong to interpret the Quran on my own?+
Reflecting on the Quran (tadabbur) is encouraged for every Muslim. What is prohibited is declaring a meaning of a verse without knowledge. Reflect freely, but do not teach or assert interpretations that aren't grounded in the established tafseer tradition.
Why do different tafaseer sometimes disagree?+
Most differences are complementary rather than contradictory; scholars emphasize different valid meanings, contexts, or linguistic possibilities. Where real disagreement exists, the ones closer to the Quran, Sunnah, and the Salaf are given precedence.