Interpretation of the Qur’an (Tafsir):

To interpret the Qur’an, from an Islamic point of view, is to try to understand its meanings so as to follow Allah’s instructions and avoid His prohibitions. However, we should put in mind that we will never come to a full understanding of the Qur’an for it is intended to be an everlasting miracle which reveals some of its secrets every now and then.

In his detailed book on the interpretation of Sura Al-Fatiha, Ahmed Ibn Ajiba points out that the first interpreter of the Qur’an is the Prophet Muhammad himself many of the prophet’s sayings interpret verses in the Qur’an. It is also said that the first interpreter of the Qur’an is Ibn Abbas. He is the first to write on the subject. Most of the later interpreters quote from his interpretation. It is also said that Ali Ibn Abi Talib, the prophet’s cousin is the first interpreter of the Qur’an. Ibn Abbas himself said: ‘I learned the interpretation of the Qur’an from Ali’.

An interpreter of the Qur’an should have good knowledge of the Arabic language, history, sayings of the Prophet, Jurisprudence and other subjects as well. Muslims are requested to be acquainted with this field of knowledge. It is esteemed as a great subject because it deals with the greatest of books, the Qur’an. It aims at knowing the wisdom and the rules put by Allah for the good and happiness of humanity.

Some interpreters of the Qur’an approach its words lexically. They try to understand the literal meaning of its words. Others try to understand the implications of the Qur’an. Some other interpreters try to give reasons for the revelation of specific verses in the Qur’an. The three categories of interpreters actually help in understanding the Our’an.

The expansion of lslam both east and west since the second decade of its appearance made it necessary for Muslims to interpret the Qur’an for non-Arabs. One of the oldest interpretations of the Qur’an is the one written by Rafie Maliran Er-Riahi (died 90 After the Prophet’s Higra.), Mujaliid Ibn Jabr (died 101 A.H.) Ataa Ibn Abi Rabah (died 114 A. H.). (Shihata 6). Professor Abdallah Shihata categorizes the early interpreters of the Qur’an into three schools:

1) Meccans, followers of Abd-Ullah Ibn Abbas.

2) Kufi (in Iraq), followers of Abd-Ullah Ibn Masoud.

3) Medinians, followers of Zayd Ibn Aslain.

 

The most important interpreters of the Qur’an in the next generations include:

1) Muqatil Ibn Sulayinan Al-Balkhi (died 150 A. H.)

2) Sufyan Ath-thawri (died 161 A. H.)

3) Wakieh son of Al-Garrah (died 197 A. H.)

4) Abdel-Razzaq Ibn Hammam As-Sanaani (died 207 A. H.)

Some of these early interpretations of the Qur’an are lost, but they are made use of by the famous Muhammad Ibn Garir At-Tabari (died 310 A. H.) in his famous and highly regarded interpretation of the Qur’an, which is so common nowadays.

Based on another criterion, interpreters of the Qur’an can be classified into two main groups. The first is that which bases its interpretation of the Qur’an on texts either of the Qur’an itself or of the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad and his companions. At-Tabari, Saiid Ibn Al- Musayab, Salim Ibn Abdullah belong to this group of interpreters. The other group of interpreters thought that it is possible to interpret the Qur’an on the basis of their own knowledge and logic. Shihata points out that the gap between the two groups of interpreters is not very big. An interpreter is supposed to make use of the texts when available. But when no textual evidence is available, an interpreter is supposed to use his own knowledge, mind and logic to understand the meaning of the verse. (7)

The following suras of the Qur’an were revealed to the prophet Muhammad in Mecca in the following chronological order:

1) Al-Alaq 2) Nun 3) Al-Muz-Zammil 4) Al-Mud-Dathir 5) Al-Masad 6) At-Takwir 7) Al-Aalaa 8) Al-Lail 9) Al-Fajr 10) Ad-Duha 11) Ash-Sharh 12) Al-Asr 13) Al-Aadiat 14) Al-Kawthar 15) Al-Takathur 16) Al-Maaoun 17) Al-Kafirun 18) Al-Fiyl 19) Al-Falaq 20) AN-Nas 21) Al-Ekhl.21s 22) An-Nagm 23) Aabasa 24) Al-Quadr 25) Ash-Shams 26) Al-Bumuj 27) At-Tiyn 28) Quraish 29) Al-Quahaa 30) Al-Qiyama 31) Al-Humaza 32) Al-Mursalat 33) Qaaf 34) Al-Balad 35) At-Tariq 36) Al-Qamar 37) Saad 38) Al-Aaraaf 39) Al-Jinn 40) Yasin 41) Al-Furquau 42) Fatir 43) Mariam 44) Taba 45) Al-Waqiaa 46) Ash-Shu’araa 47) An-Naml 48) Al-Quassas 49) Al-Israa 50) Yunus 51) Hud 52) Yusuf 53) Al-Hijr 54) Al-Anaam 55) Ass-Saffat 56) Luqman 57) Sabaa 58) Az-Zumur 59) Ghafir 60) Fussilat 61) Ash-Shura 62) Az-Zukhruf 63) Ad-Dukhan 64) Al-Jathiya 65) Al-Ahquaf 66) Az-Zariat 67) Al-Ghashiya 68) Al-Kahf 69) AN-Nahl 70) Noah 71) Ibrahim 72) Al-Anbiyaa 73) Al-Muominun 74) As-Sajda 75) At-Tur 76) Al-Mulk 77) Al-Haqqa 78) Al-Maarij 79 ) An-Nabaa 80) An-Naziaat 81) Al-Inftar 82) Al-Inshiquaq 83) Ar-Rum 84) Al-Ankabout 85) Al-Mutatffifin

Sum 96 68 73 74 111 81 87 92 89 93 94 17 100 108 102 107 109 105 103 104 112 53 80 97 91 85 95 106 101 75 104 77 50 90 86 54 38 7 72 36 25 35 19 20 56 26 27 28 17 10 11 12 15 6 37 31 34 39 40 37 42 43 44 45 46 51 88 18 16 71 14 21 23 32 52 67 68 70 78 79 82 84 30 29 83

 

 

 

 

 

The following suras were revealed to the prophet Muhammad in Medina in the following chronological order;

l) Al-Baquara 2) A1-Anfal 3) Al-Imran 4) Al-Ahzab 5) Al-Mumtahana 6) An-Nisaa 7) Az-Zalzala 8) Al-Hadid 9) Muhammad 10) Ar-Raad 11) Ar-Rahman 12) Al-Insan 13) At-Talaq 14) Al-Bayyina 15) Al-Hashr 16) An-Nasr 17) An-Nour 18) Al-Hajj 19) Al-Munafiqun 20) Al-Mujadala 21) Al-Hujurat 22) At-Tahriem 23) Al-]umu`ah 24) At-Taghabun 25) As-Saff 26) Al-Fat’h 27) At-Tawbah 28) Al-Ma’ida

2 8 3 33 60 4 99 57 47 13 55 76 65 98 59 110 24 22 63 58 49 66 62 64 61 48 9 5