What is Usool Tafsir (principles of Tafsir) all about and what you need to know about before studying it

This is a summary of a class that took place in Masjid Al-Haram in Makkah of Shaykh Muhammad Al-Khudayri who is a student of some of the leading scholars like Shaykh Ibn Baz, Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen and Shaykh Ibn Jibreen. The Shaykh is going through a text on the principles of Tafsir called Rakeeza Fi Usool Tafsir. I’d like to share my notes of the class with you all okay guys here goes.

Definition of Usool Tafsir: The science which we come to know how tafsir is done and also regarding the hukm (ruling) at areas of ikhtilaaf how we judge between them.

Subject matter of Usool Tafsir: Is in concerning the principles of Tafsir of the quran which we understand Tafsir and the speech of the scholars of Tafsir.

Beneifit of studying Usool Tafsir :

1. Usool Tafsir is obtaining the correct understand of the book of Allah.

 

2. The ability to distinguish between different views if people differ then by this ilm we know how to distinguish between them (from correct and false).

3. Refuting the distortors so when a person comes and distorts the meaning of the ayaat we refute this distortion of his. We have have rules and principle which we can refute his distortions to his false Tafsir.

We say his Tafsir is not correct because we have a principle that says such and such.

Usool Tafsir is one of the chapters of Uloom Al-Quran. For this reason when we open Imam Suyooti's book Itqaan Fi Uloom Al-Quran he has a specific chapter in regards to Usool Tafsir also like wise Imam Zarkashi in his Burhan Fi Uloom Al-Quran.

From the most benificial works in the field of Usool Tafsir is the Al-Muqadima Fi Usool Tafsir of Shaykhul-Islam Ibn Taymiyah.

Also some Mufassiroon (scholars of Tafsir) have mentioned Usool Tafsir theory in there introductions to there Tafsir like Ibn Jareer At-Tabari the imam of the scholars of Tafsir and also Ibn Kathir etc.

Either we find these principles of Tafsir in the books of Uloom Al-Quran or in a seperate book in regards to Usool Tafsir or we find it in the introduction section in the books of Tafsir or during a Tafsir discussion in there Tafsir itself.

Example of that Imam Tabari doesn’t do Tajreeh (pointing out the correct view) accept he brings the principles of Tafsir like he says the Tafsir of this verse is such and such and then he brings the Tafsir principle which is used as a basis for his Tarjeeh.

The virtue of learning Usool Tafsir: Is branch line, section of the virutes of learning the Quran.

Because it isn’t possible to understand the Quran and know its meanings except with its Usool that clarifies to us its actually meaning.

Every hadith that speaks about the virtue of learning the Quran learning Usool Tafsir is also included aswell.

The famous Hadith that says "The best of you who learns the quran and teaches it." 

So learning the Quran includes 3 things:

1. Learning its alfaaz it wordings

2. Learning the meanings

3. Learning the usool that clarifies its meaning

So the virtue of studying Usool Tafsir its the same virtue that applies to learning the Quran.

So learning the wordings of the Quran so that we learn the correct recitation of the Quran is included in the mentioned Hadith just quoted.

So learning the tafsir of the Quran is intended in that Hadith.

So learning the Usool which by means of it will enable you to understand with good proficiency the meanings of Quran is included in that Hadith aswell.

Stay tuned for part 2 inshallah