Tafsir Ibn Kathir: The Exegesis Of The Grand Holy Qur'an (Arb-Eng) Set of 4 Volumes

Tafsir Ibn Kathir
The Exegesis Of The Grand Holy Qur'an
By Al-Hafiz Ibn Kathir
Translator : Muhammad Mahdi Al-Sharif

The Exegesis of the Great Holy Qur'an by the grand imam Al-Hafiz Ibn Kathir is considered to be the best and most perfect one after the exegesis of the grand imam At-Tabari. Indeed, Al-Hafiz was so much keen on explaining the Qur'an firstly by Qur'an as possible as it could be, through mentioning the holy verses in which the meaning of subject is explained in detail. 

Then, he used to mention the sayings of the Messenger of Allah (s). Then, he would mention the traditions of the Companions and early followers concerning such a verse, which is being explained, depending upon their chains of transmitters. Although he might mention some weak Prophetic traditions, highlighting their weakness, he so often was eager to mention the correct traditions. 

In this way, his book is considered to be, in addition to being an exegesis of the Holy Qur'an, a guide to the one who wants to learn and study the Prophetic traditions, through which he might know how to criticize the chains of transmitters and the substances of tradition, and how to distinguish the correct from the false ones. Thus, it is a great instructive book of great use.

This work consists of over two million five hundred thousand words, nearly one-third of which contains the chains of transmitters mentioned by lbn Kathir of the Prophetic traditions and the sayings of the Companions and the early followers, upon which he depends in explaining the meaning of the holy verses of the Qur'an. 

The publisher did their best to remove those chains of transmitters, but maintained the last one or two narrators. They also made a hard effort, as possible as it could be, to deprive our translation of the Israelite tales and stories, upon which Ibn Kathir depends, to some extent, in his commentaries. He himself explains his situation from those stories and tales in his introductory. Our method here is to mention at first the holy verse in Arabic, followed by its translation into English. Then, the translated text of the commentary will be mentioned.

تفسير ابن كثير من أهم كتب التفسير وأشهرها لعلو مكانة مؤلفه ولكونه من التفسير بالمأثور عموماً فقد لخص فيه تفسير الطبري، ولكونه محطاطاً في إيراد الروايات وغالباً ما يحكم بعد سوقها ويشير إلى علة المعلول منها. لذا يحتاجه المسلم ليتفهم معاني القرآن الكريم بعيداً عن الخرافة والأباطيل والإسرائيليات وقد جاءت هذه الطبعة مترجمة إلى اللغة الانكليزية مع إثبات الآيات باللغة العربية قبل ترجمة معانيها بالانكليزية وبلونين حيث جعلت ترجمة معاني الآيات باللون الأحمر والتفسير من كلام ابن كثير بالأسود.

About The Author

Hafidh Abul Fida Ismail ibn Abi Hafs Shihabuddin ibn Omar ibn Kathir in Zar` the Quraishite originally from Busra (Syria) and raised in Damascus. He followed the Shafi`i school of thought. 

He was born in the year 701 AH in an area called Majdal, near Busra, west of Damascus. His father died when he was only four years old and was taken in by his brother and moved to Damascus in 706. Where he learned from great scholars such as Ibn Asakir, Ishaq ibn Yahya al-Amudi and the great Ibn Taymiyyah who was extremely close to him. 

He also studied under various other sheikhs who gave him permission in fiqh and Hadith. He made many academic contributions to Islamic sciences. 

The following are amongst his most prominent works :

• Tafseer of the Qur'an
• Al-Bidayah wan-Nihayah: a history of Muslims from Adam until Ibn Kathir's time
• At-Takmeel: a book on the science of Asmaaul Rijal (profiles of transmitters of Hadith)
• Jami`ul Masaneed: a book that collects the Hadith from ten major books of Hadith
• The classes of Shafi`ee scholars: a list of scholars following the Imam
• Extraction of the traditions of Tanbeeh (a Shafi`ee book of jurisprudence)
• The commentary on al-Bukhari (which he did not finish)
• The book of laws (again, he did not complete it)
• The summary to the science of Hadith; a synopsis to the introduction of Ibn Saahi's work
• Extraction of the traditions to the summary of Ibn Hajib
• Musnad of the two sheikhs (Abu Bakr and Umar)
• Biography of the Prophet, sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam
• The epistle of Jihad

Al-Hafiz Ibn hajar Al-Asqalani said, Ibn Kathir lost his sight just before his life ended. He died in Damascus in 774 AH. May Allah grant him Mercy and make him amongst the residents of Jannah (Heavenly Garden). Ameen