1 – Sunday Tafseer Halaqah

The Knowledge of Tafseer (Qur’an Exegesis) has been transmitted through the generations up to this day and will continue into the future. Experts in this science have existed from the time of the Righteous Companions of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.

During the life of the Beloved Prophet ﷺ, he was the one providing guidance and interpretation of the Holy Qur’an. In various verses, Allah has explicitly stated that sending the Prophet ﷺ into this world was to explain the Quranic verses, which was accomplished through his words and actions.

“Allah has certainly favoured the Mu’mineen by sending in their midst a Rasool (the Messenger of Allah ﷺ), from among them who recites to them His verses (of the Qur’an), purifies them and teaches them the Book and wisdom (the Sunnah). There is no doubt that these people were in open error before this.”  [Surah Aal-Imraan, v.164]

“We have revealed the Reminder (the Qur’an) to you so that you may explain to the people what has been revealed to them, and so that they may reflect.” [Surah Al-Nahl, v.44]

The above verses are sufficient proof that the prophetic statements and actions, known as Hadith are a significant and primary source of Qur’an interpretation (tafseer).  Without knowledge of Hadith, one cannot interpret the Holy Qur’an. The most accurate meaning of the divine book can only be provided by the person upon whom it was revealed.

The Noble Companions required a teacher to interpret the Qur’an to them, despite it being revealed in their native language. This itself is evidence that speaking or even mastering the Arabic language does not give a license for Qur’an interpretation.

Many Companions were well-known for their expertise in tafseer. Most notable were:

1. Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Abbas (Allah is Pleased with him)
2. Sayyiduna Ali ibn Abi Talib (Allah is Pleased with him)
3. Sayyidah Aishah bint Abi Bakr (Allah is Pleased with her)
4. Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Mas’oud (Allah is Pleased with him)
5. Sayyiduna Ubayy ibn Ka’ab (Allah is Pleased with him)

The Companions established learning circles of Qur’an Tafseer in the places they travelled to and settled.  As a result of this service, many of their students became experts in the science of Qur’an Tafseer.

Imam Mujahid (May Allah’s Mercy be upon him) was a student of Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Abbas (Allah is Pleased with him). He read the Qur’an thirty times with him and learned its tafseer three times.

Another great scholar of this blessed era was Saeed ibn Jubair (May Allah’s Mercy be upon him). He acquired knowledge from:

1. Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Abbas (Allah is Pleased with him)
2. Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Umar (Allah is Pleased with him)
3. Sayyidah Abdullah bin Zubair (Allah is Pleased with him)

Ikramah (May Allah’s Mercy be upon him),the freed slave of Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Abbas (Allah is Pleased with him). He spent forty years acquiring knowledge. Imam Shatbi (May Allah’s Mercy be upon him) has stated that in his time, there was no scholar of the Qur’an greater than Ikramah (May Allah’s Mercy be upon him).

Through this system of teaching and learning that the Companions established, this knowledge of Qur’an tafseer has been transferred from one generation to the next.

By the Grace and Mercy of Allah, every Sunday after Zuhr salah, Tafseer halaqah is conducted by our Imam. This halaqah is rendered in English and open to brothers and sisters.

This halaqah aims to provide a simple interpretation of the verses so it can be applied in our daily lives. Where required, cause of revelation, context, fiqh, aqeedah, seerah, etc. will be elaborated on. Participants may follow along in a mushaf or a translation.