Page 25 - Tafsir of surat at tawba repentance
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© Islamic Online University Usool at-Tafseer
Ibn ’Abbaas explained that the statement, “Then it is for Me to explain it,”
means, “upon your tongue [O Muhammad].” 80 Consequently, no other human
interpretation can be given precedence over that of the Prophet (r).
3. Tafseer of Qur’aan by Aathaar
Whenever the sahaabah could not find the tafseer of a passage in the Qur’aan
itself or in the Sunnah, they would use their own reasoning based on their
knowledge of the contexts of the verses and the intricacies of the Arabic language
in which the Qur’aan was revealed. Consequently, one of the greatest
commentators of the Qur’aan, Ibn Katheer, wrote in the preface of his tafseer, “If
we are unable to find a suitable tafseer in the Qur’aan or in the Sunnah, we go to
the opinions of the sahaabah. For verily, they knew the Qur’aan better than
anyone else due to their knowledge of the circumstances of its revelation, their
complete and accurate understanding of it, and their righteous deeds.” These
explanations of the sahaabah are known as tafseer by aathaar (the sayings of the
sahaabah). For example, when Ibn ‘Abbaas was questioned about the verse:
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“And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and guard their
chastity and to only reveal from their adornment that which
81
(normally) appears,”
82
he replied, “It refers to the face and hands.” On another occasion, after reciting
the verse,
80
Sahih Al-Bukhari, vol. 6, p. 422, no. 450.
81
Soorah an-Noor (24): 31.
82
Collected by Ibn Abee Shaybah in al-Musannaf, vol. 4, p. 283, and al-Bayhaqee in as-Sunan al-
Kubraa. Al-Albaanee ruled in Jilbaab al-Mar’ah al-Muslimah, pp. 59-60, that the isnaad of this
statement is saheeh.
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