Don't just read the Qur'an, ask for its 'tafseer'

Tafseer-ul-Quran is the explanation of the verses of the holy book. This is the knowledge Muslims should endeavor to seek to have better understand of their religion.

The simple reason for this is because Islam is a religion that is practised with knowledge.

The word tafseer is derived from "fassara" meaning to explain, to expound or elucidate. In most cases it is used to explain the meanings of the passages of the holy Quran and their legal implications.

Going to tafseer helps to boost our imaan (faith) and level of knowledge because it is an avenue for us to get the break-down of the meanings and the reasons behind revelations of the verses and chapters of the holy Quran.

In Suratu Saad verse 29, Allah says “(This is) a Book which We have sent down to you, full of blessings, so that they may ponder over its verses, and that men of understanding may remember.”

However, tafseer is not what we do on a daily or weekly basis here in Nigeria. In fact, Ramadan is the only time some mosques organize tafseer programs. And since that is more or less the culture here, it is ideal to take advantage of the remaining days in Ramadan to go to places where the Qur'an is being explained, or at least listen to lectures about tafseer-ul-Quran.

Reading the Quran in this holy month is not enough because Allah also wants us to ponder on the meanings of what we read in the Holy book.

Tafseer therefore is very important because it is the science by which the Qur’an is understood, its meanings explained, and its rulings derived.

According to Imaam as-Suyooti there are three simple reasons on why tafseer is important:

1. Allah uses the most clear, eloquent and concise language, and in doing so the meaning is clear to those who are well-grounded in the Arabic language, but not so clear to those who are not.

2. The Qur’an does not always mention the events or references for which each verse was revealed, but these must be known for the verse to be fully understood.

3. Some words may have multiple meanings, and it is the job of the person who does tafseer to explain what is meant by the word.

So to know these, we have to listen or attend gatherings where the Quran is being explained to the people to understand the principles and the meanings of what we read.

May Allah guide us and consider it an act of worship. Assalaamu Allaykum !