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Usulu t'Tafsir Notes
Tafsir is the explanation of the Qur'an. The person doing Tafsir is
called a Mufessir.
To do Tafsir there are fundamentals that need to be
followed. The Ulema teach these fundamentals of doing Tafsir and the
lesson is called Usulu t'Tafsir, fundamentals of Tafsir. The other name
of Usulu t'Tafsir is Ulumu l'Qur'an, which means knowledge of Qur'an.
Attempting to do Tafsir without knowing Usulu t'Tafsir is forbidden,
because the Qur'an is the Word of Allah Ta'Ala and making statements
without Ilm about Allah Ta'Ala is forbidden.
Some of the subjects covered in Usulu t'Tafsir are:
Compilation of the Qur'an
During the lifetime of Rasulullah Salallahu aleyhi wa Sallam in
Medina during the month of Ramadan the Malik Jibril Aleyhi Salaam
brought the Qur'an to Rasulullah in the arrangement that we have today.
After the time of Rasulullah Salallahu aleyhi wa Sallam Abu Bakr As
Sadiq and Umar Radiallahu anhuma witnessed many of the Hufazh martyred.
They then decided to collect the Qur'an. The Qur'an was then collected
from the narrations of the Sahabah all in one place and every Ayah in
the Qur'an is Mutawatir. Later during the time of Uthman Radiallahu anhu
Muslims had disagreements on how the Qur'an should be read. Uthman
Radiallahu anhu then wrote down the Qur'an with the way it should be
read in Arabic the way the Kureysh spoke. This is the correct way of
reading the Qur'an and it has seven ways of read based on the seven word
types of the Qureyish. In Arabic the seven wording types of the Kureysh
that the Qur'an is read is called Qiraatu Saba'a in Arabic.
Tartibu t'Tafsir
Tartib means order in Arabic. he first Tafsir that is looked at is
Rasulullah's Tafsir. Then the Tafsir of the Sahabah. Then the Tafsir of
the Tabain. The Tafsir of the Ulema comes after that. The Ulema do
Tafsir in the following order:
1. Tafsir of the Qur'an by the Qur'an where some Ayat explain the
other Ayat.
2. Tafsir of the Qur'an by the Sunnah where the Hadith explain the
Qur'an.
3. Tafsir of the Qur'an by the words of the Sahabah and Tabain.
4. Tafsir of the Qur'an by the Arabic language.
Ayat that are Mekki and Medeni
The Ayat that came before the Hijra are called Mekki and the Ayat
that came after the Hijra are called Medeni.
Asbabu n'Nuzul
Asbabu n'Nuzul means causes for coming down. Asbabu n'Nuzul are the
causes for certain Ayat to come down such as the Ayat that came after
the battle at Bedr when Rasulullah captured the enemy. The causes for
those Ayat to come down were the events regarding the battle at Bedr.
Muhkam and Mutashabih
In the Qur'an there are Ayat that carry laws from the Shariyah. These
Ayat can be clearly understood and they are called Muhkam. The word
Muhkam comes from the Arabic word Hukm which means law, rule. In the
Qur'an there are Ayat that are like the Muhkam Ayat but the complete
meaning of what is mentioned in them only Allah Ta'Ala Knows. These Ayat
are called Mutashabih. The word Mutashabih comes from the Arabic word
Tashbih which means to look alike, to resemble. An example of a
Mutashabih Ayah is the Ayah where Allah Ta'Ala Says that He is above His
Arsh, Throne. We know what Arsh means in the language and we accept the
Ayah as it is and we acknowledge that we can't possibly even imagine how
Allah Ta'Ala is above His Throne. When a man asked Imam Malik how Allah
Ta'Ala is on His Throne, Imam Malik said that being on something is
known in the language and the way Allah Ta'Ala is on His Throne is the
unknown. This is how all of the Mutashabih Ayat are.
Aam and Khas
It is learned in Usulu l'Fikh.
Mutlaq and Muqayyid
It is learned in Usulu l'Fikh.
Mantuk and Mafhum
It is learned in Usulu l'Fikh.
Nasikh and Mansukh
It is learned in Usulu l'Fikh.
Ijazu l'Qur'an
Ijazu l'Qur'an are the miracles in the Qur'an.
Kisasu l'Qur'an
Kisasu l'Qur'an are the stories in the Qur'an.
Amthalu Qur'an
Amthalu Qur'an are the examples in the Qur'an. In Suratu l'Bakara
Allah Ta'Ala Gave an example with people going through the dark.
Rules of the Khat of the
Qur'an (Khat in Arabic means line referring to
writing.)
1.Harf
Harf is to not write a letter.
2.Ziyada
Ziyada is to an extra letter.
3.Hamza
Hamza is how the Hamza is written
4.Bedl
Bedl is to write one letter instead of the other. Like
writing an Alef instead of a Waw.
5.Kat'i wa Wasl
Kat'i wa Wasl means cut and continue and refers to the
connections and separations between words.
6.Inclusion of two readings.
This is the inclusion of two readings means that a word
can be read in two ways according to two different readings.
Tafsir wa Ta'awil
Tafsir means explanation and the word Ta'awil in it's original form
means Tafsir. In Usulu t'Tafsir the word Taawil is understood in it's
original form and therefore it means explanation, Tafsir.
Shurut wa Adaabu Mufessir
Shurut wa Adaabu Mufessir are the conditions and etiquettes of a
person doing Tafsir, a Mufessir. Shart means condition in Arabic. Adaab
means etiquettes in Arabic.
Shurutu Mufessir:
1. Having the correct Aqueedah
2. Being free of following whims
3. After knowing Rasulullah's Tafsir and Tafsir by the Sahabah and by
the Tabain, wanting to do Tafsir by the Qur'an.
4. Wanting to do Tafsir by the Sunnah.
5. Wanting to do Tafsir by the words of the Sahabah.
6. Wanting to do Tafsir by the words of the Tabain.
7. Knowing Arabic and all parts of it.
8. Knowing all the knowledge in connection to Tafsir and knowing
Tawhid.
9. Being precise.
Adaabu Mufessir:
1. Having good intentions.
2. Having good morals.
3. Having knowledge of Sahih Riwayat.
4. Being humble and gentle.
5. Being honorable and staying away from degrading things.
6. Talking slowly and with order so that the audience understands.
7. Not to fear nor hesitate to speak the truth.
8. Knowing to let a more knowledgeable person talk. Not letting a
more knowledgeable person talk violates his rights.
9. Knowing the order of Tafsir.
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