Ways of Classifying Books of Tafsir.
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The Shaykh : So, it is necessary to know tafsir, and to what do we refer in tafsir? First: we refer to interpreting the Qur'an by the Qur'an, then interpreting the Qur'an by the Sunnah, then interpreting the Qur'an by the statements of the Companions regarding legal matters, then to interpreting the Qur'an by the great mufassirun (interpreters) of the Tabi'un who received tafsir from the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them). How many ranks are there? Four. First: that we interpret the Qur'an by the Qur'an, and there is no doubt that the most truthful interpretation of the words of Allah is the words of Allah, because it comes from the One who spoke it. An example of this in the Qur'an is very abundant: [Al-Qari'ah 101:1-3] If someone were to ask you: What is al-Qari'ah and what does it say? [Al-Qari'ah 101:4-5] [Al-Infitar 82:17-18] If someone were to ask you: What is the Day of Judgment? Its interpretation is with you, it follows it exactly [Al-Infitar 82:19] Listen to the question, and what is the answer? Interpret the Qur'an by the Qur'an, and this is found frequently in the Qur'an.
The second rank: the Sunnah. Its example: Allah the Mighty and Majestic said:[Yunus 10:26] One thinks about what is the increase over al-Hasanah? Because al-Hasanah means: that which reaches the peak of goodness in its perfection. What does al-Hasanah mean? It is the feminine of ahsan, a superlative name, meaning that which reaches the ultimate and perfect state of goodness. A person comes and asks: What is above this? The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) interpreted it and said: Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah 34:581 By Allah, this is an increase. The sweetest thing and the most pleasant enjoyment for the people of Paradise is looking at the Face of Allah. O Allah, we ask You not to deprive us of that, O Lord of the worlds. This is interpreting the Qur'an by what? By the Sunnah. And Allah the Exalted said: [Al-Anfal 8:60] What strength are we able to muster? Does it have an example? Yes, it has an example. The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) gave an example, saying: Sahih Muslim 1917 So, if someone were to ask us: Give us an example of strength? We would say: It is what? Shooting, because the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) interpreted it with that. And shooting is not throwing a stone by hand; that may be strength in its place, but shooting in every place according to its context: in the past, they shot with what? With arrows and the bow. The scholars say: "Most of it travels three hundred cubits". How many meters is three hundred cubits? Two hundred meters. This is the highest. Now, how far does a missile arrow travel? Yes, intercontinental. It is included in the verse and what the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) interpreted it with. This shooting is the greatest destruction for the enemy.
The third rank: the statements of the Companions. Allah the Exalted said:[Al-Ma'idah 5:6] And in a correct seven-letter reading: It may come to mind that the intended meaning is: touching with the hand. But Ibn 'Abbas interpreted it otherwise. He interpreted it as intercourse. So the meaning of is: you had intercourse with them, so upon you is the ghusl. If you do not find [water], then perform tayammum. So we refer in interpreting the verse to the interpretation of whom? The interpretation of Ibn 'Abbas. We say: al-mulamasah here means: intercourse. [An-Nisa 4:43] means: the minor ritual impurity. So in the noble verse, both impurities are mentioned: the minor and the major. If we had interpreted al-mulamasah as touching with the hand, it would have mentioned the minor one twice and omitted the major one, resulting in a deficiency in the indication. So the important thing is
As for the Tabi'un, it is a point of dispute among the scholars: do we refer to their interpretation or not? And the correct view is: that we refer to the interpretation of the great Tabi'un who received tafsir from the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them). If we do not find that, the door is wide, praise be to Allah. The Noble Qur'an was revealed in what? In what language? In the tongue of the Arabs[Ash-Shu'ara 26:192-195] If we do not find that, we refer to the requirements of the Arabic language. What does this mean in the Arabic language? We interpret it with that, and this does not harm us with Allah. As for the hadith: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2951Da'if (Darussalam) its intended meaning is: whoever interprets the Qur'an with his opinion. For example: a person of bid'ah (religious innovation) interprets the Qur'an according to what his bid'ah requires, a person of desire interprets the Qur'an according to his desire, and the like of that. This is the one who takes his seat in the Fire. As for whoever interprets the Qur'an according to the requirements of the Arabic language, he owes nothing. But as we said: there are three or four ranks before that, which are: interpreting the Qur'an by the Qur'an, second: the Qur'an by the Sunnah, third: by the statements of the Companions, fourth: by the statements of the great interpreters from the Tabi'un.
So I urge you, my brothers, and myself, to understand the Book of Allah and interpret it to the best of your ability, so that you benefit from it, taste its sweetness, benefit from its news, and comply with its commands and prohibitions. May Allah guide us and you to that, and make us among those who recite the Book of Allah with true recitation. Indeed, He is capable of all things.
(1) The Striking Calamity - (2) What is the Striking Calamity? (3) And what can make you know what is the Striking Calamity?
الْقَارِعَةُ مَا الْقَارِعَةُ * وَمَا أَدْرَاكَ مَا الْقَارِعَةُ(4) It is the Day when people will be like moths, dispersed, (5) And the mountains will be like wool, fluffed up.
يَوْمَ يَكُونُ النَّاسُ كَالْفَرَاشِ الْمَبْثُوثِ وَتَكُونُ الْجِبَالُ كَالْعِهْنِ الْمَنْفُوشِ(17) And what can make you know what is the Day of Recompense? (18) Then, what can make you know what is the Day of Recompense?
وَمَا أَدْرَاكَ مَا يَوْمُ الدِّينِ ثُمَّ مَا أَدْرَاكَ مَا يَوْمُ الدِّينِIt is the Day when a soul will not possess for another soul [power to do] a thing; and the command, that Day, is [entirely] with Allah.
يَوْمَ لا تَمْلِكُ نَفْسٌ لِنَفْسٍ شَيْئاً وَالْأَمْرُ يَوْمَئِذٍ لِلَّهِAnd its mother is a blazing fire.
فَأُمُّهُ هَاوِيَةٌAnd what makes you know what it is?
وَمَا أَدْرَاكَ مَا هِيَهْA blazing fire.
نَارٌ حَامِيَةٌThe second rank: the Sunnah. Its example: Allah the Mighty and Majestic said:
For them who have done good is the best [reward] and extra
لِلَّذِينَ أَحْسَنُوا الْحُسْنَى وَزِيَادَةٌThe increase: looking at the face of Allah, the Most Generous
الزيادة : النظر إلى وجه الله الكريمAnd prepare against them whatever you are able of power
وَأَعِدُّوا لَهُمْ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُمْ مِنْ قُوَّةٍBeware, strength consists in archery. Beware, strength consists in archery
ألا إن القوة الرمي، ألا إن القوة الرميThe third rank: the statements of the Companions. Allah the Exalted said:
O you who have believed, when you rise to [perform] prayer, wash your faces and your forearms to the elbows and wipe over your heads and wash your feet to the ankles. And if you are in a state of janabah, then purify yourselves. But if you are ill or on a journey or one of you comes from the place of relieving himself or you have contacted women and do not find water, then seek
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا قُمْتُمْ إِلَى الصَّلاةِ فَاغْسِلُوا وُجُوهَكُمْ وَأَيْدِيَكُمْ إِلَى الْمَرَافِقِ وَامْسَحُوا بِرُؤُوسِكُمْ وَأَرْجُلَكُمْ إِلَى الْكَعْبَيْنِ وَإِنْ كُنْتُمْ جُنُباً فَاطَّهَّرُوا وَإِنْ كُنْتُمْ مَرْضَى أَوْ عَلَى سَفَرٍ أَوْ جَاءَ أَحَدٌ مِنْكُمْ مِنَ الْغَائِطِ أَوْ لامَسْتُمُ النِّسَاءَ فَلَمْ تَجِدُوا مَاءً فَتَيَمَّمُواor you have touched women
لامَسْتُمُ النِّسَاءَyou have touched
لمستمor you have touched women
لامَسْتُمُ النِّسَاءَor one of you comes from the place of relieving himself
أَوْ جَاءَ أَحَدٌ مِنْكُمْ مِنَ الْغَائِطِAs for the Tabi'un, it is a point of dispute among the scholars: do we refer to their interpretation or not? And the correct view is: that we refer to the interpretation of the great Tabi'un who received tafsir from the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them). If we do not find that, the door is wide, praise be to Allah. The Noble Qur'an was revealed in what? In what language? In the tongue of the Arabs
(192) And indeed, the Qur'an is the revelation of the Lord of the worlds. (193) The Trustworthy Spirit has brought it down (194) Upon your heart, [O Muhammad] - that you may be of the warners - (195) In a clear Arabic language.
وَإِنَّهُ لَتَنْزِيلُ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ نَزَلَ بِهِ الرُّوحُ الْأَمِينُ عَلَى قَلْبِكَ لِتَكُونَ مِنَ الْمُنْذِرِينَ بِلِسَانٍ عَرَبِيٍّ مُبِينٍAnd whoever says (something) about the Qur'an according to his (own) opinion, then let him take his seat in the Fire.
من قال في القرآن برأيه فليتبوأ مقعده من النارSo I urge you, my brothers, and myself, to understand the Book of Allah and interpret it to the best of your ability, so that you benefit from it, taste its sweetness, benefit from its news, and comply with its commands and prohibitions. May Allah guide us and you to that, and make us among those who recite the Book of Allah with true recitation. Indeed, He is capable of all things.