THE HISTORY AND IMPORTANCE OF THE HOLY QURAN
Paper-1, Q2 (Compulsory)
Tafseer of the Holy Quran
Allah revealed the Quran as Mercy and Blessing for the
mankind so that they may understand it and act on it. Allah
says, “(This is) a Book which we have sent down to you, full
of blessings that they may ponder over its verses....” The
word Tafseer is derived from Fassara which means to explain, to
open to unveil or to discover something hidden. In the Islamic
terminology, Tafsir means interpretation of the Holy Quran. There
are five methods by which Tafsir is done.
Tafsir of the Quran by the Quran:
The best form of Tafsir is that of the Quran by the Quran,
since one part of the Quran explains the other. The Quran often
alludes (hints at) to a thing stating it briefly at one place and
then elaborates upon it at another. For example, Allah asks: “By
at-Tariq. And what will make you understand what At-Tariq
is?” He then answers in the next verse “.... t is the piercing star
(Venus)” Similarly verse 1 of Surah Maida says: “..........Lawful
unto you (for food) are all four footed animals with the
exceptions named .....”In verse 3 of the same surah, the
exceptions mentioned in the earlier verse are given in details
“prohibited to you are dead animals, blood, the flesh of
swine..........” Similarly, 2nd verse of Surah Al-Alaq just tells
about the creation of human from blood “created human from
blood”. but Tafseer of this verse and process of creation is given
in Surah Al Mominoon, “Then We made him a small life germ
in a firm resting place, then We made the life gem a clot,
then We made the clot a lump of flesh .then We made in the
lump of flesh bones, then We clothed the bones with
flesh,....” Surah Al Qariah tells a little about Heaven that its life is
of bliss “Then as for him whose balance of good deeds is
heavy, he shall live a pleasant life.” But its Tafseer is given
in Surah Al Rahman that in heaven the believers will have gardens,
fruits, fountains, silken beds etc.
Tafseer of the Quran by the Sunnah:
The Sunnah explains and elucidates the Quran, since the
Sunnah is also revealed to the Prophet. Allah says in the Quran,
“And we revealed to you the reminder (Quran) so that you
may make clear to men what has been revealed to them.”
Quran says, “And offer prayers and pay poor Due”. But this
,verse and the whole Quran does not explain the method of
prayer or the amount of Zakat that one has to be paid. So to fully
understand the interpretation of this verse we must consult
Hadith which tells us that if anyone has 7.5tola or more gold,
he must pay Zakat at the ratio of 2.5 percent annually. Similarly,
Hadith also mentions the rate of Zakat in detail. Holy Quran
simply stated wine is haram, it did not set any punishment for
the one who drinks wine as Allah said, “O you who believe,
intoxicants, and gambling and the altars of idols and the
games of chance are abominations of the devil; you shall
avoid them that you may succeed.” However the Prophet
punished the one who drank wine. Anas reported that the
Prophet gave him forty stripes with two lashes. When Umer
became the caliph, he consulted people and Abd al Rahman said,
“The mildest punishment (for drinking) is eighty (stripes)”
and umer prescribed this punishment.
Tafseer of the Quran by the Companions.
Tafseer of the companions is extremely important since they
accompanied the Messenger of Allah and learnt the religion directly
from him. They witnessed the revelation of the Quran, and passed
through the situations in which it was revealed, they knew and
understand it completely. This is particularly true of the scholars
and leaders such as the Four Rightly Guided Caliphs, Abdullah ibn
Masud and Abdullah Ibn Abbas etc. Allah made following of the
companions a condition for us, in understanding the matters of
belief, “And if they believe as you believe then they are
rightly guided, but if they turn away, then they are only in
opposition.” If this principal is ignored then this will give rise to
a number of different contradictory interpretations of the Quran.
Tafseer of the Successors and their Successors.
After the Quran, the Sunnah and the Tafseer of the
Companions, the Tafseer of the Successors is considered as a
valid source. It is because they took it from the companions who
took it from the Messenger of Allah. However, their expositions
carry authority only when they are all in agreement. Where they
differ, no one view is binding over and above another, or for that
matter binding over the following generations.
Tafseer of Quran by the historical background.
Surah Falaq and Nas discuss about blowing on the knots
and Allah’s refuge. We can’t understand these Surahs
thoroughly unless we refer to the historical background that
these two Surahs were revealed to cure the Prophet from the
spell of black magic. Similarly, we can’t understand Surah al-
, Kauser and al-Duha thoroughly unless we refer to the historical
background that they were revealed to comfort the Prophet on
the break of revelations and death of his sons, when the Quraish
called him “abter”. Similarly, Surah Lahab was revealed to
condemn Abu Lahab, when he a bused the Prophet. There are so
many Tafseer of the Quran but the most famous ones are the
Tafsir of Ibn-e-Abbas and Ibn-e-Kathir.
The Qualities of Mufassar
He should have proper knowledge of Arabic language,
Quran and Sunnah of the Prophet He should be aware of Asbab
al nazool and occasion of the revelations, Surahs and Verses. He
should be aware of Nasikh and Mansukh. He should also know
Muhkamat and Mutashabihat.
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE QURAN AS THE BASIS OF ALL
THOUGHT AND ACTION IN ISLAM
The Holy Quran is the Book of guidance. It covers all the
aspects of life, no matter if it is religious, economic, social or
political. It also tells us the difference between right and wrong.
Quran commands us to fulfill all the obligations to seek Allah’s
pleasure and success of both lives i.e. life of this world and the
Hereafter. It teaches us to abstain from bad deeds to avoid the
punishments. Allah is all watching as Ayat ul Kursi says, “…He
knows what is before or after or behind them…” This
verse tells us that Allah has knowledge of all the things that are
happening on the earth and in the Heavens. Quran also tells us
about the angels that they have been appointed over us to
record our deeds. “But verily, over you (are appointed
angels in charge of humankind) to watch you, Kiraman
Katibeen (your deeds).”
This belief creates fear of God and helps us to avoid sins, like
theft, adultery, gambling or drinking. Quran guides us in our social
life as well .It teaches good conduct, Islamic ethics and human
rights as it tells us to treat our parents in a good manner .Quran
says, “Show gratitude to Me and to thy parents”. Quran
commands us to be Just, not to offer bribes, to give true
evidence and to give full measures as it says, “O ye who
believe! Be ye staunch in justice…” It also describes laws of
inheritance, method of marriage and divorce. The only way to
achieve overall success in this world and the Hereafter is to follow
sincerely the guidance of Quran to regulate our lives in accordance
with the command, “Verily this Quran doth guide to that
which is most right (or stable)”.
Paper-1, Q2 (Compulsory)
Tafseer of the Holy Quran
Allah revealed the Quran as Mercy and Blessing for the
mankind so that they may understand it and act on it. Allah
says, “(This is) a Book which we have sent down to you, full
of blessings that they may ponder over its verses....” The
word Tafseer is derived from Fassara which means to explain, to
open to unveil or to discover something hidden. In the Islamic
terminology, Tafsir means interpretation of the Holy Quran. There
are five methods by which Tafsir is done.
Tafsir of the Quran by the Quran:
The best form of Tafsir is that of the Quran by the Quran,
since one part of the Quran explains the other. The Quran often
alludes (hints at) to a thing stating it briefly at one place and
then elaborates upon it at another. For example, Allah asks: “By
at-Tariq. And what will make you understand what At-Tariq
is?” He then answers in the next verse “.... t is the piercing star
(Venus)” Similarly verse 1 of Surah Maida says: “..........Lawful
unto you (for food) are all four footed animals with the
exceptions named .....”In verse 3 of the same surah, the
exceptions mentioned in the earlier verse are given in details
“prohibited to you are dead animals, blood, the flesh of
swine..........” Similarly, 2nd verse of Surah Al-Alaq just tells
about the creation of human from blood “created human from
blood”. but Tafseer of this verse and process of creation is given
in Surah Al Mominoon, “Then We made him a small life germ
in a firm resting place, then We made the life gem a clot,
then We made the clot a lump of flesh .then We made in the
lump of flesh bones, then We clothed the bones with
flesh,....” Surah Al Qariah tells a little about Heaven that its life is
of bliss “Then as for him whose balance of good deeds is
heavy, he shall live a pleasant life.” But its Tafseer is given
in Surah Al Rahman that in heaven the believers will have gardens,
fruits, fountains, silken beds etc.
Tafseer of the Quran by the Sunnah:
The Sunnah explains and elucidates the Quran, since the
Sunnah is also revealed to the Prophet. Allah says in the Quran,
“And we revealed to you the reminder (Quran) so that you
may make clear to men what has been revealed to them.”
Quran says, “And offer prayers and pay poor Due”. But this
,verse and the whole Quran does not explain the method of
prayer or the amount of Zakat that one has to be paid. So to fully
understand the interpretation of this verse we must consult
Hadith which tells us that if anyone has 7.5tola or more gold,
he must pay Zakat at the ratio of 2.5 percent annually. Similarly,
Hadith also mentions the rate of Zakat in detail. Holy Quran
simply stated wine is haram, it did not set any punishment for
the one who drinks wine as Allah said, “O you who believe,
intoxicants, and gambling and the altars of idols and the
games of chance are abominations of the devil; you shall
avoid them that you may succeed.” However the Prophet
punished the one who drank wine. Anas reported that the
Prophet gave him forty stripes with two lashes. When Umer
became the caliph, he consulted people and Abd al Rahman said,
“The mildest punishment (for drinking) is eighty (stripes)”
and umer prescribed this punishment.
Tafseer of the Quran by the Companions.
Tafseer of the companions is extremely important since they
accompanied the Messenger of Allah and learnt the religion directly
from him. They witnessed the revelation of the Quran, and passed
through the situations in which it was revealed, they knew and
understand it completely. This is particularly true of the scholars
and leaders such as the Four Rightly Guided Caliphs, Abdullah ibn
Masud and Abdullah Ibn Abbas etc. Allah made following of the
companions a condition for us, in understanding the matters of
belief, “And if they believe as you believe then they are
rightly guided, but if they turn away, then they are only in
opposition.” If this principal is ignored then this will give rise to
a number of different contradictory interpretations of the Quran.
Tafseer of the Successors and their Successors.
After the Quran, the Sunnah and the Tafseer of the
Companions, the Tafseer of the Successors is considered as a
valid source. It is because they took it from the companions who
took it from the Messenger of Allah. However, their expositions
carry authority only when they are all in agreement. Where they
differ, no one view is binding over and above another, or for that
matter binding over the following generations.
Tafseer of Quran by the historical background.
Surah Falaq and Nas discuss about blowing on the knots
and Allah’s refuge. We can’t understand these Surahs
thoroughly unless we refer to the historical background that
these two Surahs were revealed to cure the Prophet from the
spell of black magic. Similarly, we can’t understand Surah al-
, Kauser and al-Duha thoroughly unless we refer to the historical
background that they were revealed to comfort the Prophet on
the break of revelations and death of his sons, when the Quraish
called him “abter”. Similarly, Surah Lahab was revealed to
condemn Abu Lahab, when he a bused the Prophet. There are so
many Tafseer of the Quran but the most famous ones are the
Tafsir of Ibn-e-Abbas and Ibn-e-Kathir.
The Qualities of Mufassar
He should have proper knowledge of Arabic language,
Quran and Sunnah of the Prophet He should be aware of Asbab
al nazool and occasion of the revelations, Surahs and Verses. He
should be aware of Nasikh and Mansukh. He should also know
Muhkamat and Mutashabihat.
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE QURAN AS THE BASIS OF ALL
THOUGHT AND ACTION IN ISLAM
The Holy Quran is the Book of guidance. It covers all the
aspects of life, no matter if it is religious, economic, social or
political. It also tells us the difference between right and wrong.
Quran commands us to fulfill all the obligations to seek Allah’s
pleasure and success of both lives i.e. life of this world and the
Hereafter. It teaches us to abstain from bad deeds to avoid the
punishments. Allah is all watching as Ayat ul Kursi says, “…He
knows what is before or after or behind them…” This
verse tells us that Allah has knowledge of all the things that are
happening on the earth and in the Heavens. Quran also tells us
about the angels that they have been appointed over us to
record our deeds. “But verily, over you (are appointed
angels in charge of humankind) to watch you, Kiraman
Katibeen (your deeds).”
This belief creates fear of God and helps us to avoid sins, like
theft, adultery, gambling or drinking. Quran guides us in our social
life as well .It teaches good conduct, Islamic ethics and human
rights as it tells us to treat our parents in a good manner .Quran
says, “Show gratitude to Me and to thy parents”. Quran
commands us to be Just, not to offer bribes, to give true
evidence and to give full measures as it says, “O ye who
believe! Be ye staunch in justice…” It also describes laws of
inheritance, method of marriage and divorce. The only way to
achieve overall success in this world and the Hereafter is to follow
sincerely the guidance of Quran to regulate our lives in accordance
with the command, “Verily this Quran doth guide to that
which is most right (or stable)”.
