Tafsir and Quranic Exegesis
Tafsir is examined both as a discipline (its conditions, methods and major works) and as practice (explaining a given verse with sound reasoning). Al-Azhar questions usually ask you to name the method used, then justify an interpretation from within the Qur'an, the Sunnah, the Companions' reports or Arabic usage.
Core rules and concepts
- Order of priority in tafsir: the Qur'an by the Qur'an, then by the Sunnah, then by the sayings of the Companions, then by the Successors, then by the Arabic language and its usages.
- Conditions of the mufassir: sound creed, knowledge of Arabic (nahw, sarf, balagha), knowledge of the sciences of the Qur'an (naskh, asbab, makki/madani, qira'at), knowledge of hadith and usul, and piety. A mufassir who ignores naskh will apply an abrogated ruling.
- Tafsir bi al-ma'thur (transmitted) versus bi al-ra'y (reasoned): the latter is mahmud when disciplined by the sources and madhmum when it merely imposes opinion.
- Key works: al-Tabari's Jami' al-Bayan; Ibn Kathir's Tafsir; al-Razi's Mafatih al-Ghayb (reasoned, Ash'ari); al-Zamakhshari's al-Kashshaf (Mu'tazili - consulted for its rhetoric, corrected for its creed); al-Baydawi's Anwar al-Tanzil; Ibn 'Ashur's al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir; Sayyid Qutb's Fi Zilal al-Qur'an.
Worked example
Explain 'guide us to the straight path' (1:6). Qur'an by Qur'an: Surah 1:7 specifies the path as that of those favoured, not of those who incurred anger or went astray; 6:153 states 'this is My path, straight, so follow it'. Sunnah: the report that the path is what the Prophet and his Companions were upon. Language: al-sirat is the clear, wide road; the definite article indicates a known path. Reasoning: this is tafsir bi al-ma'thur supported by linguistic analysis, not ra'y alone, because every element is anchored in a text.
Traps that cost marks
- Quoting al-Zamakhshari's theological glosses as if they were Sunni positions.
- Using an abrogated verse as evidence because naskh was not checked.
- Confusing asbab al-nuzul with a general lesson drawn from the verse.
- Calling any reasoned tafsir madhmum; the condemnation applies to opinion unsupported by sources.