What is Tafseer?

Tafseer is the science of explaining, interpreting, or commenting on Quranic verses. Anyone who writes Tafseer is called Mufassir. The conditions to do Tafseer are very high. According to Sheikh Jalaludin Al-Suyuti (R.H), a Mufassir must master 15 sciences before engaging in Tafseer. These sciences include Hadith, Fiqh, Aqaid (theology), Sarf, Nahw, and Bayan among others.
There are two types of Tafseers: Tafseer bi-alriwaya and Tafseer bi-al-diraya. The former consists only on the Hadiths of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) where he is explaining the verses of the Holy Quran. The later is opinion oriented. However, the opinions should be based on the main sources primarily Hadiths.
Does that mean that you cannot learn Tafseer? The answer is “no”. At Online Quran Academy, our teachers will teach you the Tafseer. They are certified scholars with years of experience in the field. The textbooks for the course are three: “The Noble Quran: Meaning With Explanatory Notes”, “Anwar Ul Bayan”, and “Ma’ariful Qur’an”. The former is written by Sheikhul Islam Mufti Taqi Usmani. He is a famous scholar who lectures on Sahih al-Bukhari in Jamia Darul Uloom Karachi. He is also a member of “International Islamic Fiqh Academy” based in Jeddah. Anwar Ul BAyan is written by Maulana Ashiq Ilahi Bulandshahri (R.H). He also taught Hadith at Darul Uloom Karachi and compiled Hadiths in the collection “Zadut Talibin”. Ma’ariful Quran is an eight volume Tafseer by Late Mufti Azam-e-Pakistan Muhmmad Shafi (R.H). Mufti Shafi (R.H) was the founder of Darul Uloom Karachi. Late Prof. Muhammad Hasan Askari (R.H) and Prof. Muhammad Shamim translated his Tafseer in English language.