In general, the scholars have divided the books of Tafsir into three basic categories:
- Tafsir bi’l-Riwaya / Tafsir bi’l-Ma’thur: The books of Tafsir through tradition. Tafsir through transmission.
- Tafsir bi al-Diraya / Tafsir bi’l-Ra’y: The books of Tafsir through reasoning/opinion. Tafsir through by sound opinion, reasoning, and knowledge.
- Tafsir bi al-Ishara: The books of symbolic Tafsir. Tafsir by indication and from signs.
Specifically, the interpretations in Qur’anic exegesis taking its own own methodology and focused concern, arrives at 8 types, which are:
- Tafsir bi’l-Riwaya / Tafsir bi’l-Ma’thur (Tafsir by Tradition): This type relies on interpretations provided by the Qur’an itself, the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad (Hadith), and the sayings of the Sahabah (companions of the Prophet).
- Tafsir bi’l-Ra’y (Tafsir by Reason): This type of exegesis uses ijtihad (independent reasoning) and is based on the exegete’s understanding and rational analysis. It often incorporates linguistic, philosophical, and theological perspectives.
- Tafsir Ishari (Allegorical or Mystical Interpretation): This approach focuses on the inner and spiritual dimensions of the text, often used by Sufis, who seek deeper, esoteric meanings behind the literal text.
- Tafsir al-Fiqhi (Jurisprudential Interpretation): This interpretation aims to derive legal rulings from the Qur’an and is often undertaken by scholars of Islamic law (fiqh).
- Tafsir al-Adabi al-Ijtima’i (Literary and Social Interpretation): This modern approach emphasizes understanding the socio-historical context of the Qur’an and its relevance to contemporary issues, often linking the text to contemporary social and ethical concerns.
- Tafsir al-‘Ilmi (Scientific Interpretation): This modern approach involves interpreting the Qur’anic text in light of contemporary scientific discoveries and knowledge, aiming to show harmony between the Qur’an and science.
- Tafsir Lugawi (Linguistic Interpretation): This approach primarily focuses on the linguistic and grammatical aspects of the Qur’an, analyzing its language, structure, and style.
- Thematic Tafsir (Tafsir Mawdu’i): This approach involves studying the Qur’an by focusing on specific themes or topics, collecting all verses related to a theme to understand the Qur’anic stance on that issue comprehensively.
Even more generally, some scholars divided the Tafsir books from an academic methodology standpoint into two main categories:
- Books of Tafsir through tradition, and
- Books of Tafsir through opinion.
[‘Itr, ‘Ulum al-Quran; Subhi al-Salih, Mabahith fi ‘Ulum al-Quran]
Tafsir books through Tradition are books that contain the interpretation of the Quran by the Quran itself, the Sunna, and the narrations from the Companions and the Followers (Athar).
Note: Scholars have differed on what the books of Tafsir narrate from the Followers. Some scholars consider it part of the tradition, while others consider it part of the second category (Tafsir through opinion). However, the books of Tafsir through tradition have included what was narrated by the Followers in Tafsir; therefore, it can be considered included in the traditional Tafsir.
Tafsir books through Opinion is the interpretation of the Quran through diligent effort relying on the sciences and tools that the interpreter needs, such as the sciences of language, grammar, morphology, and etymology, the sciences of rhetoric, the science of readings, the science of the fundamentals of religion, the science of the principles of Islamic jurisprudence, and the Hadiths that explain the interpretation, like reasons for revelation, abrogating, and abrogated verses, or explanations of the general or ambiguous verses…, the science of stories, and the science of divine gift, which is knowledge bestowed by Allah to those who act according to what they know, and familiarity with the axioms of modern sciences.
That is, interpreting the Quran by the implications of the Quran’s language, through its usage among its people, in their prose and poetry, and making efforts within the framework of the rules of interpretation.
Fiqhi (Jurisprudential) Tafsir Books are concerned with the study of verses related to rulings and explaining how these rulings are derived from them. A group of scholars focused on interpreting the verses of rulings that explain the laws of Islam and clarify what is halal (permissible) and haram (forbidden). [‘Itr, ‘Ulum al-Quran; al-Muqaddimat al-Asasiyya fi ‘Ulum al-Quran]
Linguistic Tafsir Books are intended to pay attention to explaining the Quranic text grammatically and rhetorically, highlighting various meanings, eloquence, and literary beauty. They also focused on unveiling a range of its meanings and peculiarities based on what is known about the Arabs. [al-Muqaddimat al-Asasiyya fi ‘Ulum al-Quran]
Contemporary Tafsir Books exist for a few reasons:
- The language of Tafsir in the past ages was akin to a discourse for specialists, where most of those who benefited from it were students of religious knowledge rather than the general public. Thus, there was a need for new books in a language that aligned with the realities of people.
- Contemporary Tafsir books also took into account the innovations of this era and what touches the needs of Muslims today. Orientalists and their followers raised many doubts about the Quran in our time; therefore, it was necessary for Muslims to respond to them in their own style.
- Modern science has revealed many of the secrets of creation, which the interpreter finds directly related to the Quran. Indeed, it has revealed truths that were not accessible to earlier interpreters; hence, books emerged that explain these truths and simplify them for the people.
Sources
- https://seekersguidance.org/answers/quran/what-are-the-categories-of-tafsir-quranic-exegesis-books/
- Ulum al-Quran by Ahmad von Denffer.
- A Brief Introduction to Quranic Exegesis by Ali Suleiman Ali.