Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh,
I am Zayd Haji, a student at Zad Academy.

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, his family, companions, and all those who follow them until the Day of Judgment.
In this blog, I will summarize a lesson from Zad Academy about major works of Tafsir (Qur’anic exegesis), focusing on their methodologies, authenticity, and contributions to Islamic scholarship.

The Qur’an is the divine revelation sent for the guidance of humanity. Allah says:
“This is the Book about which there is no doubt, a guidance for those conscious of Allah.” (Qur’an 2:2, Quran.com)

To correctly understand the Qur’an, scholars devoted their lives in compiling Tafsir, drawing from the authentic Sunnah, statements of the Sahabah (companions), and reliable reports. The Prophet ﷺ emphasized the importance of knowledge when he said:
“When Allah intends good for someone, He gives him understanding of the religion.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 71, Sunnah.com)

Thus, Tafsir books remain critical in preserving the proper context, meanings, and rulings derived from the Qur’an.

Imam al-Alawi (d. 516 AH) authored a summarized Tafsir that became widely acknowledged for its authenticity and reliability. He purified his Tafsir from weak and fabricated narrations, especially removing the Isra’iliyyat (Judeo-Christian reports) that had entered into earlier works.

His methodology was based on:

• Authentic narrations from the Prophet ﷺ and his companions.

• Avoidance of weak hadiths and baseless stories.

• Presenting commentary in a concise and practical manner.

Allah reminds us of the responsibility of transmitting knowledge truthfully:
“And do not mix the truth with falsehood or conceal the truth while you know [it].” (Qur’an 2:42, Quran.com)

Another major contribution in Tafsir literature is Tafsir al-Qurtubi, authored by Imam al-Qurtubi (d. 671 AH) from Andalusia (modern-day Spain). His Tafsir focused on the legal and jurisprudential (Fiqh) rulings derived from the Qur’an. While he was primarily a Maliki scholar, he openly discussed opinions from all major schools of Islamic law, showing fairness and breadth of scholarship.

His methodology involved:

• Grouping verses dealing with legal or thematic issues.

• Explaining reasons for revelation (Asbab al-Nuzul).

• Addressing linguistic analyses and contextual details.

• Comparing scholarly opinions with evidence from Qur’an and Sunnah.

This made his Tafsir not just a commentary, but an encyclopedic work in Qur’anic legal rulings.

The comparison of scholars such as Imam al-Alawi, Imam al-Qurtubi, and earlier authorities like Ibn Jarir al-Tabari shows the diversity of approaches to Tafsir. Some focused on narrations, others on Fiqh rulings, while all remained committed to preserving the meanings of Allah’s speech.

The Prophet ﷺ said:
“The most truthful speech is the Book of Allah, and the best guidance is the guidance of Muhammad.” (Sahih Muslim 867, Sunnah.com)

Therefore, Tafsir plays a vital role in linking Muslims to authentic understanding, free from innovations and distortions.

• Reliability in Tafsir depends on strict adherence to Qur’an and authentic Sunnah.

• Weak and fabricated narrations must be removed to preserve purity of interpretation.

• Scholars throughout history sought to clarify, authenticate, and transmit these works for the benefit of future generations.

• Students must approach Tafsir sincerely, with the intention of seeking Allah’s pleasure and acting upon knowledge.

Allah says:
“And say, ‘My Lord, increase me in knowledge.’” (Qur’an 20:114, Quran.com)

From Imam al-Alawi’s purification of Tafsir literature to Imam al-Qurtubi’s focus on Qur’anic rulings, these works remain essential for Muslims striving to understand their faith deeply. The methodologies of great scholars teach us the importance of preserving authenticity, sincerity, and balance in Islamic scholarship.