The 2 Main Types of Tafsir with Examples

If you want to learn Qur’an, you must know other topics that mean Tafsir the verses, such as Islamic Tafsir and Types of Islamic Tafsir. Tafsir of the Qur’an is essential for a better and deeper understanding of the meaning of the Qur’an. Reading the English translation of a verse is not enough to find its exact meaning.

Tafsir the meaning of those verses where Muhammad was after the revelation of the Qur’an because his role was not only to convey God’s message.

Although the language of the Qur’an is Arabic, the Muslims of the Arabian Peninsula cannot understand the meaning of the Qur’an. So they rely on the Interpretation of Rasulullah (PBUH). This leads to Tafsir in Islam.

Tafsir of the Qur’an helps Muslims understand the principles of Islam, the oneness of God, its obligations, and prohibitions.

Friends appreciated the importance of the narrations of the Prophet Muhammad SAW, which included interpreting his verses, so many narrated his teachings to Muslims, such as Abu Hurairah and Anas Ibn Malik.

The importance of Tafsir

Tafsir is required to know the true Qur’an. Tafsir has two types; it is an example of Al-Qur’an. Without knowing Tafsir, it isn’t easy to interpret Al-Qur’an. The purpose of Tafsir is to clarify what God has revealed to humanity through the Holy Scriptures.

Allah said in the Qur’an, “Truly, this Qur’an leads to the right path.”

Anyone can find their way directly from this book. A person trained in Qur’anic explanation can discern the meaning of a verse better than the average believer.

Finally, learning the method of teaching Tafsir and Tafsir with examples can be used in everyday life to know more about the Qur’an. Sheikh Asirasir Kadhi explains the relationship between the Qur’an and Tafsir in his book Introduction to the Sciences of the Qur’an. He put it this way:

“The Qur’an is like a treasure in a glass bottle; Men can see and benefit from it, but they need Interpretation, because Interpretation is the key that unlocks the treasure and enables mankind to make use of it. ”

Another scholar, Iyaas, said, “For example, people who read the Qur’an but do not know the Tafsir, like a group of people who receive a message from their ruler in the middle of the night and have no light.” Ibn Muawiyah. As a result, he needed to learn the content of the message. It was as if someone familiar with Tafsir approached him with a lamp and read what was written in the message. ” Two main types of Tafsir with examples of the Qur’an

3 reasons why learning Tafsir is important :

1. Perform daily activities (prayer) with concentration and awake.

If a person prays several times daily, they may need to be more accurate and correct. In the same way, he can think a lot about his interests, plans, and problems that arise in his mind.

Who can avoid this if someone knows the significance and meaning of each verse he recites in his prayer? This will help a person become hushed and huzoo in prayer and build a strong bond between him and Allah. It can be achieved when studying Tafsir.

2-For a better understanding of the Qur’an by non-Arabs.

God uses the easiest, most straightforward, and most concise language in the Qur’an; with it, the meaning and meaning are clear for those who know or come from Arabic.

However, it is not easy for non-Arabs to understand the Qur’an. For this purpose, the study of Tafsir is necessary for all Muslims.

Iyaas bin Mu’awiyah (122 AD) once said:

“A person who reads Al-Qur’an and does not know its explanation/tafsir is like a congregation of people whose authority comes with news that comes at night, and there is no light to read it. This is it.

Therefore, there is no vague idea about what is in the news. An example of a person who knows Tafsir is someone who comes to him with light and tells him what is in the treatise.

3. Build an eternal bond with our Creator.

Being close to God in the Qur’an, focusing on different situations, and doing different things means God is always with you. However, the term close to God has a different meaning.

As the Qur’an says: “Truly I have created man, I know how his inner thoughts grow, and I am closer to him than his veins.” [Quran 50:16].

Learning Tafsir creates a more profound connection in the hearts of believers than reading or memorizing the Qur’an. It brings the heart and mind closer to the word of God and makes us stand on the straight and right path.

Types of Tafsir in Islam

Scholars divide the Science of Tafsir into two main types:

1. Comment on Riwaya or Athar

This form of Tafsir began to appear after the establishment of Science. The Interpretation of the Qur’an is based on the use of leading sources.

Qur’an itself is the primary source of this type of Tafsir. Companions also used the words of Muhammad, peace be upon him, about interpreting the Qur’an.

Therefore, the source of Tafsir bil Riwaya is the Qur’an, the “Sunnah” of the legend of Muhammad, and the Interpretation of the Companions.

When you read this verse, you will see that the blessed night when Allah revealed the Qur’an is unknown. But in the verse of Al-Qadr, Allah describes this night as the night of Al-Qadr.

Verily, We have revealed this in Lailatul Qadr}

(97:1).

Another example is the Interpretation of the stories of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). He explained the verse in Baqqarah as follows:

Eat and drink until the white thread of the mountain looks different from the black thread}

(2:187).

Muhammad alaihissalam explained this verse as narrated by Adi bin Hatim: “O Messenger of Allah! What is the difference between white thread and black thread? Are those two lessons? He said, “You are not smart if you watch two lessons.” Then he said, “No, it is dark at night and white during the day.”

2. Tafsir bill Al-Ra’y

In Arabic, the form of the name of Tafsir is Ijtihad. These scholars of Interpretation compare the verses of the Qur’an to obtain an accurate interpretation.

They also compared the interpretations of the Companions, so they gave the first knowledge: Tafsir Bil Riwaya.

1. Book of Tafsir and Riwaya

You can read many books about this type of explanation:

• Al-Jawahir al-Hisn fi Tafsir al-Gurhan, Abd al-Raḥman Tha alabi (876 H).
• Al-Kashf wa al-Bayan, Abu Isak Aḥmad al-Tha labi (427 H).
• Fatḥ al-Qadir, Muhammad b. Ali b. Shawkani (1250 H).
• Jalal al-Din Suyuti (911 H) Durr al-Manthur fi al-Tafsir bil al-Mathur.
• Baḥr al-Ulum (Samarqandī), Abu Layth Samarqan (373 H).
• Ma’alim al-Tanzil, Abu Muḥammad b. Mas’ud Baghawi (516 H).
• Tafsir Jami al-Bayan fī Taʼwil al-Gurhan, Abu Jafar Muḥammad b. Jarir Tabari (310 H)

1. Book of Tafsir Bill Ray

There are many books on this type of Interpretation.

• Madarik al-Tanzil wa Haqa’iq al-Tawil, Ibn Maḥmud Nasafi (710 H).
• Ta’wilat al-Qur’an, Abu Mansur Muḥammad b. Muhammad Maturidi (333 H).
• Lubab al-Tawil fi Maani al-Tanzil, Ala al-Din al-Khazin (725 H).
• Tafsir Kabir (Mafatih al-Ghayb), Fakhr al-Din Razi (606 H).
• Ghara’ib al-Qur’an wa Ragha’ib al-Furqan, Ḥasan b. Muhammad Qummi Naishaburi (730 H).
• Taḥrir wa al-Tanwir, Ibn Ashur (1393 H).
• Tafsir Kabir (Mafatih al-Ghayb), Fakhr al-Din Razi (606 H).

Conclusion :

Determining the meaning of the Qur’an “Tafseer” is necessary for an accurate and complete understanding of the verse. Types of Qur’an: Tafsir bil Rivaya and Tafsir bil Ra’i. The primary sources of Interpretation of the Qur’an in Islam are the Qur’an, As-Sunnah, and the interpretations of the companions of the Prophet Muhammad SAW.

The Science of Interpretation is not only to understand the verses of the Qur’an better but also to recognize the laws of Islam that must be followed by Muslims and to study the history of Islam. In addition, the Interpretation of the verses of the Qur’an strengthens the relationship with God and creates social norms.