Tafseer, as it is known, is a branch of Islamic science that is carried out by analyzing the Quran in terms of language and bringing together the information necessary for understanding the text. These studies have continued to the present day in an oral style, and by being written down since the half of the 2nd century A.H.
Today, Islamic communities that are growing at a great speed refer to Tafseer works in order to understand the Quran and to put Allah’s orders into their lives. For this reason, Tafseer works have been translated into different languages, and with the development of technology, it has become possible to find great tafsir works on websites, laptops, and phones. So what is the best Tafseer of Quran?
If you are wondering where to start, which works you should read, and where you can find the best Tafseer of Quran, here is an informative article for you!
Table of Contents
Why Do Tafseer Books Exist?
When it comes to tafsir works, Muslims refer to the most reliable Tafseer of Quran. With the spread of Islam, reliable commentaries were translated into different languages. This provided great convenience to the Muslims, and they were able to comprehend the parts of the Quran that are difficult to understand, both in terms of grammar and meaning, as a result of the translation activities carried out in the field of tafsir.
Best Tafseer of Quran in English
The best Tafsir of the Quran in English includes Tafsir Ibn Kathir, known for its reliance on prophetic narrations and companion explanations, and Tafsir Al-Qurtubi, which emphasizes legal rulings. Yusuf Ali’s work offers an accessible translation and commentary, widely popular in English-speaking communities.
1- Tafsir Ibn Kathir
Ibn Kathir’s Tafsir Al-Quranil-Adhim is the most useful narration commentary, The one who collects the explanations made by the Prophet (PBUH) and his companions in the widest sense, the one who best finds the evidence of the Ahl as-sunnat wal-jamaat school from the Quran. It is seen as the one who protects Muslims from non-violent comments and explanations of the Madhaps who have gone astray.
This valuable tafsir has been published many times in different Islamic countries. You can buy the book version of this tafsir in English, or you can find it translated into English on online platforms.
2- Tafsir Al-Qurtubi
Al-Jami’ li Ahkamil-Quran (Tafsir Al-Qurtubi), which is Qurtubi’s most voluminous and most important work, has a distinguished place among the sources of tafsir. In the introduction of the work, the interpreter gave brief information about the method he followed, later on, the etiquette of recitation, the importance of learning the Quran, the commentary on the condemned ray, the place of the sunnah in tafsir, the arrangement of the chapters and verses, the virtue of the Quran. He gave place to fabricated hadiths and some similar topics and tafseered the surahs in order.
You can reach this Tafseer work online and free of charge by downloading the app or from other online platforms.
3- The Holy Quran Translated by Yusuf Ali
This is one of the best works in which the Quran is interpreted in English. This tafsir of Yusuf Ali has been published many times and is widely known and read in English-speaking areas.
Best Tafseer of Quran in Arabic
The best Tafsir of the Quran in Arabic includes Tafsir Ibn Jarir At-Tabari, a comprehensive 30-volume work renowned for its depth, and Tafsir Al-Jalalayn, which offers concise yet profound explanations based on Quranic and Prophetic sources. These tafsirs are highly regarded for their clarity and adherence to the authentic traditions of Islam.
Tafsir Ibn Jarir At-Tabari
Works such as Ibn Kathir and Qurtubi can be read in Arabic, as well as the 30-volume Tafsir Ibn Jareer (also known as Tabari), which is known as one of the most comprehensive commentaries, is among the greatest sources of tafsir that can be read.
Tafsir Al-Jalalayn
In Tafsirul-Jalalayn, the method of explaining the Quran with the Quran and the Sunnah has been utilized to a great extent, the hadiths are sometimes given by narration (in terms of meaning) and sometimes references are made to known hadiths. In the work, in which the reasons for the revelation of the verses are stated, it is interpreted in a short and understandable style in a way that does not allow the divine purpose to be lost in the details.
Now that we have mentioned the best tafseers of the Quran that you can read in English or Arabic. So, what are the sources that make up the structure and content of Tafsir? Let’s take a look…
The Most Authentic Tafseer of the Quran:
When the most important sources of tafsir are mentioned, first the Quran and the Sunnah of our Prophet (PBUH) come to mind, then the types of tafsir that form the basis of tafsir.
Tafsir Bir-Riwayah:
It refers to the works transmitted from the predecessors, the words of the Companions and even the Tabi’in, and the Quran itself with the Quran and Seerah. It is based on the explanation and interpretation of the Prophet with hadiths.
Tafsir Bid-Dirayah:
Tafsir Bi Ad-Dirayah, on the other hand, is the general name of the tafsir that is based on language, literature, general principles of religion, and other general information, together with the issues mentioned in the Tafsir Bir-Riwayah.
Who Is Famous for Translating the Quran in English?
Abdullah Yusuf Ali is famous for his 1934 English translation of the Quran, which remains widely used and respected today for its careful balance of fidelity to the original Arabic and readability. M.A.S. Abdel Haleem published a widely accepted English version in 2004, praised for its clarity, with numbered verses and helpful notes alongside the Arabic text, making it accessible for readers
1- The Quran, translated by Abdullah Y. Ali
Abdullah Yusuf Ali is an Indian translator and Quran memorizer who was born on April 14, 1872, in Mumbai, India. The English translation of the Quran published in 1934 is still one of the most reliable works. In the translation presented side by side with the Arabic text, Yusuf Ali took care to choose the closest form of expression of the Arabic word to English, and thus the work received great attention and support from the Islamic community. This popularity still continues today.
2- M.A.S. Abdel Haleem
Abdel Haleem’s “The Quran” was first published in 2004. It is now published for the first time with the original Arabic text. Traditional Arabic written pages are provided alongside the English translation. A useful general introduction to the Quran’s issues of revelation, tafsir, and translation is included, along with a summary of each sura, key footnotes, and an index. The style of the text is clear and away from closed meanings. The verses are individually numbered to facilitate comparison with Arabic.
Who Wrote the First Tafseer of Quran?
The first compiled fiqh tafsir, according to our current knowledge, was written by Muqatil ibn Sulayman ibn Bashiral-Balkhi. The distinguishing feature of Muqatil’s tafsir is ease and simplicity. In addition, it completely encompasses the meanings of the verses and the Mutashabihat in the Quran and the related ones in the Sunnah.
Muqatil ibn Sulayman is the author of the first compiled fiqh tafsir, as well as the first work (at-Tafsirul-Kabir) in which the Quran is interpreted from the beginning to the end, and the first work written in the field of wujûh and nadhair , which has an important place in Quranic sciences.
Easy Quran Tafseer
If you are just starting to read tafsir and do not know where to start, you can start by reading tafsir with extensive interpretation, for example, you can turn to tafsir step by step by reading easy books such as the following one:
Reading the Quran by Ziauddin Sardar
Another suggestion is Reading the Quran from Ziauddin Sardar, which deals with how the verses can be understood in today’s age with a broad interpretation of the Quran, the descent of the Sacred text of the Quran, and how one can understand the Quran as an individual, as a book that can be read by Muslims or non-Muslims.
This book is a beautiful work that aims to establish the connection between the Quran and life. Although this book does not contain the complete interpretation of the Quran like the other tafsir works mentioned, you can find answers to your questions about what should be our perspective on the Quran as Muslims and how we should perceive the messages given to us.
Or, you can progress programmatically by taking lessons from experts.
Although it is preferable to read tafsir individually, it is not a situation supported by Islamic scholars to read tafsir by someone who has deficiencies in fields such as akaid, kalam and fiqh. As a matter of fact, for someone who cannot understand what is meant by some verses and hadiths, this may lead to a weakening of his faith. For this reason, it may not be sufficient for the person who will read tafsir to know Arabic or to read tafsir in his own language.
In order not to be inadequate at this point, most Muslims prefer to take tafsir lessons, especially from teachers who know Native Arabic or are well-equipped in Tafsir, which is of great importance in terms of understanding their faith and reading correctly.
Join Tafseer Course at Riwaq Al Quran!
To understand the Qur’an, which brings people out of darkness to the light, means to reach the main purpose of life, to live in the direction of Allah’s will. We must strive to understand the words of Allah. While doing this, it will be in your best interest to choose a guide that can guide you well in the part where you have difficulty. In addition to Arabic, Quran reading and hifz courses, online Tafseer courses are also available in Riwaq Al Quran!
Enjoy Quality Lessons with Our Native Tafseer Teachers
Taking your tafsir lessons from a native Arabic speaker means that you will learn the Quran in the best way, both in terms of meaning and cultural context. If you want to attend your classes wherever you want without the problem of space and time, if you want to determine your lesson schedule, you are at the right place!
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