Which tafseer should I get?

[knowrass]

I'm planning to buy a mukhtasar of tafseer instead of the whole set, because they're just too many (4 volumes+!) I've read al-tafseer al-wajeez by Wahba az-Zuhayli (which was really good and had very simple language), but I don't know if I should get it since he is ash'ari. A few books I'm considering are "Tayseer al-Kareem ar-Rahmaan fi Tafseer kalaam al-mannaan" by as-Sa'di, Mukhtasar Ibn Katheer, perhaps even shaykh Wahba's tafseer.... I've also come accross Ibn Taymiyyah's one but that's 7 volumes.

So, please in shaa Allaah suggest something that is good with simple language, yet not too many volumes, unless you think that the complete volume set are actually much better.

Jazaakumullaah.

[Yasir]

as-salaamu 'alaikum,

You could try at-Tafsir al-Waadih al-Muyassar (http://www.neelwafurat.com/itempage.aspx?id=lbb146409-107788&search=books) or Safwatut-Tafaaseer (http://www.neelwafurat.com/itempage.aspx?id=lbb107272-67426&search=books) both by Sh. Ali as-Saabooni.

The level of language used is often quite straightforward, so it'll be easy to understand. However in recent years, there's been some controversy over the latter, so you may choose to avoid it.

I'm planning to buy a mukhtasar of tafseer instead of the whole set, because they're just too many (4 volumes+!)If you mean that the there are too many volumes in a set, then you can get a good print of the complete Tafsir Ibn Kathir in four volumes (http://www.al-ilmiyah.com/_Product.php?Action=Detail&ProductID=919), published by Darul-Kutub al-'Ilmiyyah.

[1mran]

Assalam alaikum,

it actually depends.

each Tafsir offers its own lessons.

If you are a beginner, the best is Ibn Katheer.

because it actually uses other Tafsirs and uses hadith.

the other ones can go into abit more detail and normally learnt at higher levels.

as for tafsir of Ibn taymiyyah. from what ive been told there is no such thing. its just a compilation of his fatwas on meanings of certain verses, and some people put that together to get a Tafsir? Allah knows best

there's also Tafsir al-Qurtubi

I remember Imam Anwar al-Awlaki speaking about them and he explained that each tafsir was good and gave you lessons in different ways.

but i cant recall what he said exactly :o

how about this one?

http://www.dar-us-salam.com/store/main.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=Dus&Product_Code=Q01&Category_Code=Eng_Quran

it seems like a mixture of them all and maybe the simplest to read?

and Allah knows best

[Abu_Abdallah]

as-salaamu 'alaikum,

You could try at-Tafsir al-Waadih al-Muyassar (http://www.neelwafurat.com/itempage.aspx?id=lbb146409-107788&search=books) or Safwatut-Tafaaseer (http://www.neelwafurat.com/itempage.aspx?id=lbb107272-67426&search=books) both by Sh. Ali as-Saabooni.

The level of language used is often quite straightforward, so it'll be easy to understand. However in recent years, there's been some controversy over the latter, so you may choose to avoid it.

If you mean that the there are too many volumes in a set, then you can get a good print of the complete Tafsir Ibn Kathir in four volumes (http://www.al-ilmiyah.com/_Product.php?Action=Detail&ProductID=919), published by Darul-Kutub al-'Ilmiyyah.

I would avoid both the Tafsir-books of al-Sâbuni, espec. the latter. Zuhayli's Tafsir is a good one. Muhammad Nasib al-Rifa'i's Mukhtasar of Tafsir Ibn Kathir also, and it is translated into English too. A classical Tafsir like al-Jalalayn is also very good.

[knowrass]

jazaakumullaah everyone for trying to help.

bro sharif, u mentioned that sh. az-zuhayli's tafseer is good, but what do you think about his tafseer regarding the arsh, etc. those things related to aqeedah? its been about 2 years since i read it, so i've kind of forgotten about it now...

[knowrass]

has anyone read sh as-sa'di's tafseer, i've already placed an order for it but i can still cancel it, incase it turned out to be a bit complex. any reviews, regarding the language style, etc.?

[Yasir]

I would avoid both the Tafsir-books of al-Sâbuni, espec. the latter.Does the Tafsir al-Waadih al-Muyassar have the same mistakes as the earlier Safwatut-Tafaaseer? (I've not read the latter in detail, however I have seen some books in response to it).

[Abu_Abdallah]

I have only read - not fully but parts - the Safwat al-Tafasir by al-Sabuni. The problem is not just the 'Aqidah-issues. I can live with that. Jalalayn and other famous Tafasir have similar problems. al-Zuhayli's Tafsir too, as a modern written one.

What makes al-Sabuni's Tafsir not recommended, is not the 'Aqidah-related things in it. As I said I c a n l i v e w i t h t h a t. What is problematic, as pointed out by Shaykh Bakr Abu Zayd in the Rudud and by others, is his unreliability in citing his sources. He simply misquotes statements of Salaf and others, and post 'summaries' which are actually 're-edited passages' which are not entitled to the one he quotes; rather, they are his. I mean - as some stated - that the man 'lies' or misinterprets exceedingly far what preceding Mufassirun said. An example is the verse about Allah's Shin and the narrations connected to it from the Companions, Followers etc.

al-Zuhayli and many other Mufassirun are far more reliable in citing correctly, even if they summarize statements of people. At least, that is something I experienced from them.

I haven't read Tafsir al-Wadih, by al-Sabuni. But reading many reviews of his Safwat al-Tafasir and consequently having confirmed some of that when checking that book, I would advise none to depend upon it and its many misquotes.

[Abu Faaris As-Sumalee]

سؤال:
ما رأي فضيلتكم في كتاب " صفوة التفاسير " للشيخ الصابوني , حيث إن بعض الشباب الملتزمين يعيبون علينا قراءة هذا الكتاب , ويقولون بأن عقيدة الشيخ الصابوني معتزلية أو أشعرية ، وتفسيره للقرآن كذلك , وحيث إني لا علم لي بهذا الشيخ فصرت أقرأ في هذا الكتاب لبساطتهِ ومنهجه الجذاب ، فما رأيكم في هذا الكتاب وفي مؤلفه ؟ وما الكتب التي توصون بها التي تهم كل مسلم (غير مختص بالعلوم الشرعية) في عقيدته وحياته من عبادات ومعاملات .

الجواب:

الحمد لله

أولاً :

الأستاذ محمد علي الصابوني , من أساتذة كلية الشريعة بمكة المكرمة ، كان له نشاط في علوم القرآن والتفسير, ومن ثم قام بتأليف عدة كتب في التفسير وعلوم القرآن , أكثرها مختصرات , كـ " مختصر تفسير ابن كثير " , و " مختصر تفسير الطبري " , و " التبيان في علوم القرآن " , و " روائع البيان في تفسير آيات الأحكام " , و " قبس من نور القرآن " , و " صفوة التفاسير " , وهو الكتاب الذي نحن بصدده .

وهـو تفسير موجز , قال عنه مؤلفه : إنه شامل ، جامع بين المأثور والمعقول , مستمد من أوثق التفاسير المعروفة كـالطبري والكشاف ! وابن كثير والبحر المحيط ! وروح المعاني , في أسلوب ميسر سهل التناول , مـع العناية بالوجوه البيانية واللغوية .

وقال في المقدمة :

وقد أسميت كتابي " صفوة التفاسير " , وذلك لأنه جامع لعيون ما في التفاسير الكبيرة المفصلة , مع الاختصار والترتيب , والوضوح والبيان .

طبع الكتاب في ثلاث مجلدات , وكان تاريخ التأليف سنة (1400 هـ ) .

أما من حيث اعتقاد المؤلِّف فهو أشعري الاعتقاد ، وهو ما جعل كتبه واختصاراته عرضة للنقد والرد ، بل جعله هذا يبتر بعض نصوص الأحاديث ، ويحرف بعض النقول عن العلماء كما سيأتي .

قال الشيخ سفر الحوالي :

أما الصابوني فلا يؤسفني أن أقول إن ما كتبه عن عقيدة السلف والأشاعرة يفتقر إلى أساسيات بدائية لكل باحث في العقيدة ، كما أن أسلوبه بعيد كثيراً عن المنهج العلمي الموثق وعن الأسلوب المتعقل الرصين .

" منهج الأشاعرة في العقيدة " ( ص 2 ) .

وقد رد عليه كثير من أهل العلم مثل الشيخ عبد العزيز بن باز رحمه الله والشيخ الألباني رحمه الله والشيخ صالح الفوزان والشيخ بكر أبو زيد والشيخ محمد جميل زينو وغيرهم .

وأما كتابه " صفوة التفاسير " فهو من أكثر كتبه التي ردَّ عليها العلماء ، وهذه قائمة بأسماء بعض من ردَّ عليه مع ذِكر أسماء كتبهم :

1. " الرد على أخطاء محمد علي الصابوني في كتابه " صفوة التفاسير " و " مختصر تفسير ابن جرير " ، للشيخ محمد جميل زينو – مدرس التفسير في دار الحديث في مكة - .

2. " تنبيهات هامة على كتاب " صفوة التفاسير " " ، للشيخ محمد جميل زينو .

3. " ملاحظات على كتاب " صفوة التفسير " " للشيخ سعد ظلاَّم – عميد كلية اللغة العربية في مصر - .

4. " ملاحظات على صفوة التفاسير " للشيخ عبد الله بن جبرين .

5. " ملاحظات عامة على كتاب " صفوة التفاسير " " للشيخ صالح الفوزان .

6. " التحذير من مختصرات الصابوني في التفسير " للشيخ بكر أبو زيد ، وهو ضمن كتابه الكبير " الردود " .

وهذه الردود والتعقبات دفعت وزارة الأوقاف في المملكة العربية السعودية أن تمنع تداول الكتاب وتأمر بمصادرته ، وذلك في : " تعميم وزارة الحج والأوقاف برقم 945 / 2 / ص ، في 16 / 4 / 1408 هـ من المديرية العامة للأوقاف والمساجد في منطقة الرياض المتضمن مصادرة " صفوة التفاسير " وعدم توزيعه حتى يصلح ما فيه من أخطاء عقدية .

قال الشيخ بكر أبو زيد :

" صفوة التفاسير " اسم فيه تغرير وتلبيس ، فأنَّى له الصفاء وهو مبني على الخلط بين التبر والتبن ، إذ مزج بين تفسيري ابن جرير وابن كثير السلفييْن ، وتفسير الزمخشري المعتزلي ، والرضي الرافضي ، والطبرسي الرافضي ، والرازي الأشعري ، والصاوي الأشعري القبوري المتعصب ، وغيرهم ، ولا سيما وهذا المزج على يد من لا يعرف الصنعة ولا يتقنها كهذا الذي تسوَّر هذا الصرح بلا سلَّم ، وإلا فإن أهل العلم يستفيدون من المفسرين المتميزين بما لا يخرج عن الجادة : مسلك السلف ، وضوابط التفسير ، وسَنن لسان العرب .

" الردود " ( ص 311 ) .

وقال :

فيفيد وصفه بالجهل أنه : يصحح الضعاف ، ويضعِّف الصحاح ، ويعزو أحاديث كثيرة إلى الصحيحين ، أو السنن الأربعة أو غيرها وليس في الصحيحين – مثلاً – أو ليس في بعضها ، ويحتج بالإسرائيليات ، ويتناقض في الأحكام .

ويفيد وصفه بالإخلال بالأمانة العلمية : بتر النقول ، وتقويل العالم ما لم يقله ، وتحريف جمع من النصوص والأقوال ، وتقريره مذهب الخلَف في كتب السلف .

ويفيد خَلْفيته في الاعتقاد : مسخه لعقيدة السلف في مواضع من تفسير ابن جرير ، وتفسير ابن كثير ، وبأكثر في " صفوة التفاسير " ، وما تحريفه لعدد من النصوص إلا ليبرر هذه الغاية .

" الردود " ( ص 313 ، 314 ) .

وقد نصحه الشيخ عبد العزيز بن باز – رحمه الله – قائلاً :

نوصيك بتقوى الله ، والحرص التام على التقيد بمذهب السلف الصالح في جميع مؤلفاتك ، ونوصيك أيضاً بالإكثار من تدبر القرآن الكريم ، والسنَّة المطهرة ، وكلام سلف الأمَّة ، والاستفادة مما كتبه الإمام العلاَّمة شيخ الإسلام ابن تيمية ، وتلميذه العلاَّمة ابن القيم ، ونوصيك بمطالعة رسالتيْ " التدمرية " و " الحموية " لشيخ الإسلام ، و " الصواعق " و " اجتماع الجيوش الإسلاميَّة " لابن القيم ، وغيرها من كتب السلف .

" الردود " ( ص 375 ) .

ثانياً :

أما ما أردت بيانه من الكتب التي يحتاجها المسلم في حياته : فيمكنك الاطلاع على السؤال : ( 14082 ) ففيه بيان ما أردت وزيادة .

والله أعلم .

[Abu Faaris As-Sumalee]

I'm considering are "Tayseer al-Kareem ar-Rahmaan fi Tafseer kalaam al-mannaan" by as-Sa'di

Good, easy to carry whenever you leave the house (1 vol) gives you what you need to know if you are just looking to get info on an ayah and ibn 'uthaymin recommended it.

Around £10/ $20

gets the Abu Faaris thumbs up

[Abu_Abdallah]

Barakallahu fik for this!

I've seen the criticism of Shaykh Bakr and what Dr. Safar al-Hawali mentioned - and brother Abuz Zubair is planning to translate some of it - concerning al-Sabuni. I forgot the strong remarks of Shaykh Bakr concerning it. But now the brothers may see it.

[knowrass]

jazaakumullaah bro sharif and abu faaris.

just incase someone wants to read the fatwa posted by abu faaris, here is the english version: http://www.islamqa.com/index.php?ref=39771&ln=eng

[knowrass]

found shaykh as-sa'di's tafseer online: http://www.almeshkat.com/books/open.php?cat=6&book=80

unfortunately shaykh wahba's tafseer isn't available online :(

[Abu_Abdallah]

found shaykh as-sa'di's tafseer online: http://www.almeshkat.com/books/open.php?cat=6&book=80

unfortunately shaykh wahba's tafseer isn't available online :(

www.waqfeya.com :)

[Fajr]

The problem is not just the 'Aqidah-issues. I can live with that. Jalalayn and other famous Tafasir have similar problems.
What sort of 'Aqeedah errors are there in tafseer al-Jalaalayn?
Knowrass, if you're looking to get the Jalaalayn, its really good at highlighting the different qiraa'at and the complimentary change in meanings. It's also very simple in its language. Tafseer as-Sa'di I find to be an extremely beneficial collection and easy to understand, as mentioned its only 1 volume and has everything you need to start you off.

[knowrass]

www.waqfeya.com :)

:eek:

jazaak Allaah alif khayr wa j'alaha fee meezaan hasanaatak! :D! subhaan Allaah never thought i'd find this online! btw, i asked u earlier regarding the aqeedah issues in this tafseer in particular, what are your thoughts regarding them, as shaykh wahba is an ash'ari, right?

Knowrass, if you're looking to get the Jalaalayn, its really good at highlighting the different qiraa'at and the complimentary change in meanings. It's also very simple in its language. Tafseer as-Sa'di I find to be an extremely beneficial collection and easy to understand, as mentioned its only 1 volume and has everything you need to start you off.

yes, in shaa Allaah i'll consider Jalaalayn, but i have to make sure first (because of aqeedah issues). but tafseer as-sa'di seems good and simple, i just downloaded the e-book, and i think that i will get the actual book in shaa Allah!

[Abu Faaris As-Sumalee]

http://www.almeshkat.com/books/open.php?cat=6&book=80

Yeah, the one on meshkat isnt the full one. Its starts from surah maryam until surah saba(at least when i download it)

Download this one bro.

http://saaid.net/book/open.php?cat=2&book=276

[knowrass]

Yeah, the one on meshkat isnt the full one. Its starts from surah maryam until surah saba(at least when i download it)

Download this one bro.

http://saaid.net/book/open.php?cat=2&book=276

jazaak Allaah for the link. the meshkaat one is complete though. there's one .zip file as soon as u open it, and a folder which contains 3 other zip files. in fact, i just downloaded the saaid one and the contents are the same! meshkaat just put each doc separately into it's own zip file to make things smaller in size.

[Abu Faaris As-Sumalee]

hayakallah akhi

I must have missed it jazakallahu khair.

[knowrass]

hayakallah akhi

I must have missed it jazakallahu khair.

wa iyaakum.

[Abu_Abdallah]

What sort of 'Aqeedah errors are there in tafseer al-Jalaalayn?

Ash'arite Ta'wil of many Sifât, as stated by Shaykh al-Maghrawi in his Mufassirun bayn al-Ta'wil wa'l-Ithbat fi Ayaat al-Sifat - also readable at the waqfeya site. Refer to vol.3 p. 1166ff.

"As for in the Tafsir entitled al-Jalalayn, then he (al-Suyuti) is a major Ash'arite. He did not leave an Attribte, except that he interpreted it. Except the Attribute of Ascending, for he affirmed it.. and what we've said about al-Suyuti is said about his firend al-Jalal [al-Din] al-Mahalli with respect to Ta'wil. For both the two of them are interpreters of the Attributes upon the doctrine of the Ash'arites."

Whether al-Suyuti is an Ash'arite, I doubt that very much. But the Ta'wilât mentioned are from Ash'arites, as stated correctly (even though shared by other sectarians). Don't get me wrong: there is a lot of benefit in this book. Indeed, it is after the Riyad al-Salihin of al-Nawawi the bost popular book where I come wrong! I like the book very much, even though it has its mistakes as any other book.

al-Jalalayn, Ibn Juzayy's Tafsir, al-Samarqandi's Bahr al-Ulum, al-Baydawi etc. all have benefit, but many of these have dogmatic views that oppose what is sound - that is: the way of the Salaf.

[ibn Kamal]

I have Mukhtasar of Tafsir al Tabari by ibn Samaadih al-andalusi, can someone tell me who he is?

[Abu Ikrimah]

I've also come accross Ibn Taymiyyah's one but that's 7 volumes.



Please could you elaborate on this? Jazak Allahu khayran.

Also, I recommend aysar at-tafaseer by Shaykh Abu Bakr Al-Jazaa'iri - it is very simple yet extremely wide in meaning. I also recommend Dr Musaa'id At-Tayaars tafseer of juz' 'Amma and any tafseer done by shaykh ibn 'Uthaymeen.

Finally, I would not let the aqeedah errors keep you away from Jalalayn (although you should bear them in mind) - it really is a unique book and it will inshallah benefit you tremendously. It is even studied in places like dar al-hadeeth al-khayriyyah in makkah at mutawassitah level to give students a firm grounding in tafseer.

[Tisatashar]

Assalamu alaykom

Is there anything besides Ibn Kathir for english readers. Coping with day to day arabic is one thing but plowing through serious arabic ilm books is beyond my comprehension abilities.

[Anikaa]

I'm wondering the same thing.

Jazaaku'Allah khayr.

[junaid123]

tafsir jalalayn can be found here:

http://www.altafsir.com/Tafasir.asp?tMadhNo=1&tTafsirNo=74&tSoraNo=1&tAyahNo=1&tDisplay=yes

[hearandobey]

Please could you elaborate on this? Jazak Allahu khayran.

you can download al-tafseer al-kabeer here (http://waqfeya.net/open.php?cat=11&book=940).

although i recommend you read this discussion (http://www.ahlalhdeeth.com/vb/showthread.php?t=12336) in al-multaqa regarding the book and if it really is ibn taymiyah's work.