tefsir

Tafsīr, also spelled tefsir, is the scholarly discipline of interpreting the Qur'an. From the Arabic root f-s-r, it means to explain or interpret. Tafsir aims to uncover the meanings of verses, explain linguistic features, reflect historical context, and relate revelations to doctrine, law, ethics, and guidance for Muslims.

The Qur'an is the primary text in tafsir. Exegesis draws on hadith and the sunna of the Prophet, as well as the historical circumstances of revelation (asbāb al-nuzul), Arabic grammar and rhetoric, and juristic and theological reasoning. Traditional methods are divided into tafsir bi-al-ma'thur (based on transmitted sources such as Qur'an, hadith, sayings of the Companions) and tafsir bi-al-ra'y (based on reasoned inference within an accepted framework).

Historically, systematic tafsir emerged in the early medieval period. Prominent works include al-Tabari's Jāmi' al-bayān, Ibn Kathir's Tafsir, al-Qurtubi's al-Jāmi' li-Ahkām al-Qur'an, and al-Zamakhshārī's al-Kashshāf. Sunni, Shia, and Sufi traditions produced diverse approaches—linguistic and philological analysis, juridical and theological explanations, and mystical interpretations. Modern scholars have also applied historical-critical methods and expanded linguistic studies.

Tafsir spans legal, theological, ethical, and linguistic aims. It ranges from encyclopedic commentaries to concise explanations and widely used translations. While central to Qur'anic studies, tafsir remains a dynamic field with ongoing works that aid readers in understanding the Qur'an's meanings and applications.