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Tafsir of the Quran: plain commentary on the 114 surahs
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Discover authentic tafsir and understand the Quran in depth
The tafsir is the art of understanding and explaining the Quran down to its finest details. This religious science sheds light on the deeper sense of the verses revealed to the Prophet Muhammad more than fourteen centuries ago. Muslim scholars developed the discipline in order to pass on the richness of the divine message to believers in every age.
Quranic commentary rests on several essential sources. The Quran itself explains some of its passages, while the Sunnah of the Prophet brings crucial detail on the circumstances of revelation. The companions of Muhammad, direct witnesses of that time, passed their commentary on to later generations. Classical Arabic also remains fundamental for grasping the linguistic nuances of the sacred text.
The great commentators such as Ibn Kathir, al-Tabari and al-Qurtubi produced monumental works that still guide Muslims today. Their work examines each verse from different angles: historical, legal, spiritual and linguistic. That rounded approach allows a complete understanding of the Quranic message.
The reading the Quran gains in depth through tafsir. Believers can then apply the divine teachings better in their daily lives. The study of the hadiths naturally completes this, bringing the prophetic light that is needed.
Every Muslim can benefit from this science, whether a beginner or well advanced in faith. What matters is to rely on sources that are reliable and recognised by the community of scholars. This wisdom of a thousand years still enriches the spiritual life of believers across the world, offering answers to present-day questions through the eternal teachings of the Quran.
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ReadYou may be wondering…
What is the tafsir of the Quran?
Tafsir is the science of Quranic commentary: it explains the meaning of the verses, the setting of their revelation, their vocabulary and the teachings they hold. It guards against misreadings and opens up the depth of the text. This page lists the 114 surahs, Meccan and Medinan, with their number of verses; each leads to its verse-by-verse tafsir.
What are the great books of tafsir?
Among the reference works are the tafsir of Ibn Kathir, widely used and founded on the hadiths, that of al-Tabari, one of the oldest and fullest, and that of al-Qurtubi, known for its legal discussions. These monumental works examine each verse from historical, legal, spiritual and linguistic angles, and still guide Muslims today.
What sources does Quranic commentary rest on?
Commentary rests first on the Quran itself, which explains some of its passages by others, then on the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ, which clarifies and illustrates the verses. Then come the explanations of the Companions, witnesses of the revelation, and of their students, along with command of the Arabic language. A reliable tafsir respects that order of sources.
Can the Quran be understood without tafsir?
Reading with a translation gives the general sense and allows reflection on the verses, which is already of benefit. But many passages call for knowing the setting, the possible senses of an Arabic word, or the hadith that sheds light on them. Tafsir supplies those keys and guards against mistaken readings. Every Muslim, beginner or advanced, gains from relying on sources recognised by the scholars.
Which surah should I begin the study of tafsir with?
It is common to begin with Al-Fatiha, recited in every prayer, then with the short surahs of Juz Amma that one often already knows by heart: understanding what you recite brings more presence to the prayer. You can then move to longer surahs such as Al-Baqarah or Al-Kahf. Use the search on the page to find the surah you want quickly.