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Islamic Studies · Lesson 2

Tafsir and the prescribed suwar with text, meaning and lessons

JAMBWAECNECO

What the syllabus asks

JAMB: 2 Tafsir (historical development; importance); 4 Arabic texts with tajwid: al-‘Adiyat, al-Qari‘ah, at-Takathur, al-‘Asr, al-Humazah, al-Ma‘un, al-Kawthar, al-Kafirun, an-Nasr, al-Masad, al-Ikhlas, al-Falaq, an-Nas (al-Fatihah in ir1); 5 al-A‘la, ad-Duha, al-Inshirah, at-Tin, al-‘Alaq, al-Bayyinah, az-Zalzalah, Q.2:255, Q.2:285–286, Q.9:128–129 (al-Qadr in ir1)

WAEC: ad-Duha, at-Tin, al-Kafirun, an-Nasr, al-Ikhlas, al-Falaq, an-Nas. Moral lessons (JAMB 7; WAEC Qur’an 3) are taught in ir3.

NECO: ad-Duha, at-Tin, al-Kafirun, an-Nasr, al-Ikhlas, al-Falaq, an-Nas. Moral lessons (JAMB 7; WAEC Qur’an 3) are taught in ir3.

What you will learn

Key points

Start here: What tafsir is, and its sources

Tafsir (تفسير) comes from the Arabic root fassara, “to explain, to uncover”. In Islamic Studies it is the science of explaining the meanings of the Glorious Qur’an: what its words mean, when and why its ayat were revealed, what rulings they contain and what lessons they teach. A scholar of tafsir is a mufassir (plural mufassirun). A related word, ta’wil, originally also meant interpretation; later scholars often used it for deeper explanation of a verse’s meaning or of its final outcome. In exams you may treat tafsir as the general term.

The Qur’an itself gives the Prophet (SAW) the duty of explaining it: “And We revealed to you the message that you may make clear to the people what was sent down to them and that they might give thought” (Q.16:44). Tafsir therefore began with the Prophet himself.

The sources of tafsir are usually listed in this order of authority:

  1. The Qur’an explaining the Qur’an. One verse explains another. For example, “the path of those upon whom You have bestowed favour” in al-Fatihah is explained by Q.4:69, which names the prophets, the truthful, the martyrs and the righteous.
  2. The Sunnah. The Prophet (SAW) explained verses in words and in practice. The Qur’an orders salat; the Sunnah shows how many rak‘at and how to perform them.
  3. The sayings of the Companions. They saw the revelation, knew the occasions and spoke the Arabic of the Qur’an. Ibn ‘Abbas (RA) is called Tarjuman al-Qur’an, “interpreter of the Qur’an”.
  4. The sayings of the Successors (Tabi‘un), students of the Companions.
  5. The Arabic language: grammar, vocabulary and pre-Islamic poetry help to fix the meaning of rare words.
  6. Sound reasoning (ra’y) by a qualified scholar, within the limits set by the sources above.

Two broad methods. Tafsir bi-l-ma’thur (by transmission) relies mainly on the Qur’an, the Sunnah and reports from the Companions and Successors; at-Tabari and Ibn Kathir are classic examples. Tafsir bi-r-ra’y (by reasoned opinion) adds the scholar’s own reasoning, language analysis and theology; ar-Razi’s great tafsir is an example. Scholars accept reasoned tafsir when it is based on knowledge and agrees with the transmitted sources, and condemn opinion without knowledge.

Qualifications of a mufassir (often asked): sound faith and sincerity; mastery of Arabic grammar, morphology and rhetoric; knowledge of the qira’at; knowledge of asbab an-nuzul (occasions of revelation) and an-nasikh wa-l-mansukh (abrogating and abrogated rulings); knowledge of hadith and its sciences; knowledge of fiqh and its principles; and the ability to tell Makkan from Madinan passages.

Exam tip: “Trace the origin and sources of tafsir” wants both history (section 2.2) and this list of sources. Number your points.

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Practice questions

1. Tafsir means
  1. explanation (exegesis) of the Qur’an
  2. recitation rules
  3. the chain of narrators
  4. Islamic law
Show answer

A: explanation (exegesis) of the Qur’an
Tajwid is recitation.

2. Suratul-Ikhlas (Q.112) teaches
  1. the story of Musa
  2. the rules of zakah
  3. the Day of Judgement only
  4. the Oneness of Allah (Tawhid)
Show answer

D: the Oneness of Allah (Tawhid)
“Say, He is Allah, [who is] One.”

3. The Prophet (SAW) said Suratul-Ikhlas is equal to
  1. a quarter of the Qur’an
  2. the whole Qur’an
  3. one-third of the Qur’an
  4. half of the Qur’an
Show answer

C: one-third of the Qur’an
Bukhari 5013.

4. Suratul-Masad (Q.111) was revealed about
  1. Abu Sufyan
  2. Abu Lahab
  3. Abu Jahl
  4. Abu Talib
Show answer

B: Abu Lahab
Bukhari 4971.

5. Al-Falaq (Q.113) and an-Nas (Q.114) are together called
  1. al-Mu‘awwidhatan
  2. al-Mathani
  3. az-Zahrawan
  4. al-Musabbihat
Show answer

A: al-Mu‘awwidhatan
Both begin “Say, I seek refuge”.

Key words

Tafsir
Explanation (commentary) of the Qur’an.
Mufassir
A scholar who explains the Qur’an.
Ta’wil
Interpretation; deeper explanation of meaning.
Tafsir bi-l-ma’thur
Tafsir based on transmitted reports.
Tafsir bi-r-ra’y
Tafsir based on qualified reasoning.
Asbab an-nuzul
Occasions of revelation.
Tabi‘un
Successors: students of the Companions.
Kanud
Ungrateful (Q.100:6).
Mizan
The scale on which deeds are weighed.
Takathur
Rivalry in piling up worldly things.
Humazah / lumazah
Scorner / mocker.
Ma‘un
Small kindnesses, simple items lent to others.
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