Tafsir of The Holy Qur’an
By: Dr. Issah Abeebllahi Obalowu
Literal Meaning of Tafsir (تفسري)
The word "Tafsir" comes from the Arabic root " ف-س-ر " (fa-sa-ra), which means "to explain," "to clarify," or "to interpret." So,
literally, Tafsir means "explanation" or "clarification."
Technical (Islamic) Meaning of Tafsir
In Islamic terminology, Tafsir refers to:
"The science of explaining the meanings of the Qur'an, clarifying its rulings, wisdom, and the context in which the verses were revealed." It includes:
o Explaining the language and grammar
o Providing the historical background (asbāb al-nuzūl)
o Interpreting legal rulings derived from the verses
o Discussing the beliefs and values conveyed
o Clarifying metaphors and deeper meanings
Objectives of Tafsir:
The main goals and objectives of Tafsir are:
1. Understanding the True Meaning of the Qur'an. Help people understand what Allah intends through His words.
2. Explaining the Context of Revelation (Asbāb al-Nuzūl). Knowing the circumstances behind specific verses adds depth to their meaning.
3. Clarifying Ambiguous Verses. Some verses may seem unclear or have multiple meanings, and Tafsir explains them.
4. Deriving Rulings and Guidance. Tafsir helps scholars extract Islamic laws, morals, and life
lessons from the Qur'an.
5. Strengthening Faith and Spiritual Insight. By understanding Allah's words deeply, believers grow in iman
(faith) and taqwa (piety).
6. Preserving the Correct Understanding of the Qur'an: Protects against misinterpretation, distortion, or misuse of verses.
7. Connecting the Qur'an to Daily Life; Shows how the Qur'anic message applies to personal, social, and political life.
BREAKING QUESTIONS:
"If you could ask one question about the Qur'an, what would it be?"
"Have you ever heard a verse from the Qur'an and wanted to know what itreally means?"
"Why do you think Allah didn’t reveal the Qur’an in one go like a book?
What could be the wisdom behind it?"
"Can you think of a verse you've heard often in prayer? What do you think
it means?"
"Why do you think there are so many different Tafsir books? Isn't the
Qur’an one book?"
"If someone only speaks English, how can they really understand the
Qur’an?"
"What do you think is the difference between reading and
understanding the Qur’an?"
"What do you think is the most important reason we study Tafsir?"
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