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editions of this massive work is the one containing the comments of Ahmad
Shaakir on the isnaads of the many narrations cited by the author. Unfortunately,
the authentication effort was cut short by Shakir’s death, having only completed
up to verse five of Soorah Maa’idah. 118

5.Tafseer al-Baghawee, Ma‘aalim at-Tanzeel

Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad al-Baghawee (d. 1117 CE/ 510 AH) was an
eminent jurist of the Shaafi‘ee school and one of the foremost hadeeth scholars of
his time. His tafseer was a condensed version of Tafseer ath-Tha‘labee, in which
the majority of weak and fabricated narrations were removed and all the chains of
narrators were mentioned. He also removed various heretical concepts mentioned
in ath-Tha‘labee’s tafseer, as well as scientific information not directly related to
tafseer. Al-Baghawee briefly mentions some of the various recitations and
explains grammatical constructions only where it is absolutely necessary. There
are a few Israa’eeleeyaat mentioned without critical analysis and some
conflicting opinions of early scholars which are also mentioned without
evaluation. This tafseer has been printed in a single edition along with Ibn
Katheer’s tafseer and Tafseer al-Khaazin and is among the most reliable tafseers
based on narration. 119

6. Tafseer Ibn Katheer, Tafseer al-Qur’aan al-Atheem

Abul-Fidaa’ Ismaa‘eel ibn Katheer ad-Dimishqee (1300-1373 CE/699-774
AH) was a Shaafi‘ee fiqh scholar and a student of Ibn Taymeeyah. He was also an
eminent hadeeth scholar and a historian. His historical work, al-Bidaayah wa an-
Nihaayah, is considered the most authentic Islaamic history book. Tafseer ibn
Katheer is also considered the most authentic book of tafseer, and is second only
to Tafseer at-Tabaree in popularity among scholars. The book contains an
extensive preface covering the methodology of tafseer, and great emphasis has
been placed upon the interpretation of Qur’aan by Qur’aan. Ibn Katheer critically
analyzes all of his narrations and evaluates the conflicting statements of the
sahaabah and the taabi‘oon. He also warns against the dangers of Israa’eeleeyaat
and other false information commonly found in tafseers. Legal issues are

118
Printed by Daar al-Ma‘aarif in Cairo.
119
See at-Tafseer wal-Mufassiroon, vol. 1, pp. 245-8.

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