In language, Tafsir ((التفسير) is take from the word الفسر. According to Ibnul Faris in Mu’jam Maqayis Al-Lughah that the word of tafsir is explanation of something. It is also mentioned in the word of Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala, which reads :
وَلاَ يَأْتُونَكَ بِمَثَلٍ إِلا جِئْنَاكَ بِالْحَقِّ وَأَحْسَنَ تَفْسِيرًا
“And they do not come to you with an argument except that We bring you the truth anad the best explanation.” (Q.S. Al-Furqan : 33)
Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala puts down Al-Qur’an Al-Karim to the Prophet Muhammad Shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, He wants to His believers understand and apply it. Allah Ta’ala said,
“[This is] a blessed Book which We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], that they might reflect upon its verses and that those of understanding would be reminded.” (Q.S. Shod : 29)
See also :
There are some importance of Tafsir in Islam. Let us explain it for you.
- Learn Tafsir of Qur’an is the noblest of learning Qur’an
Rasulullah Shalallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said,
خيركم من تعلم القرآن وعلمه
“The best of you is those who learn Qur’an and teach it.” (Narrated by Imam Al-Bukhari)
From that hadith, Rasulullah saw explained us that if you want to be the best believer, you should learn tafsir of Qur’an well and teach it to others. So, your knowledge will be useful for everyone.
- The material of Tafsir is the noblest of lesson materials
Ibnul Qayyim rahimahullah in Miftah Daris Sa’adah (1/86) said,
وهو أن شرف العلم تابع لشرف معلومه
“That the nobility of science follows the nobility of material that is studied in that science.”
It is clear that Tafsir is the noblest science because it is learned about Kalamullah. There is no greater speech than the word of Allah Ta’ala. So, it is not surprising if tafsir is the noblest of lesson materials.
3. Allah SWT will lock the heart of those who do not deepen Qur’an
The word of Allah Ta’ala,
أَفَلَا يَتَدَبَّرُونَ الْقُرْآنَ أَمْ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبٍ أَقْفَالُهَا
“Then do they not reflect upon the Qur’an, or are these locks upon [their] hearts?” (Q.S. Muhammad : 24)
There is also a hadith from Syaikh Muhammad Shalih Al-‘Utsaimin rahimahullah, which reads :
أن الله تعالى وبخ أولئك الذين لا يتدبرون القرآن، وأشار إلى أن ذلك من الإقفال على قلوبهم، وعدم وصول الخير إليها
“That Allah Ta’ala reproach those who do not tadabbur Qur’an and imply that is is a form of locking their hearts and goodness does not arrive to their hearts.” (Ushulun fit Tafsir, Syaikh Muhammad Shalih Al-Utsaimin, page 23)
- Avoid the fallacy in the world and get happiness in the Hereafter
The next importance of tafsir in Islam can avoid the fallacy in the world by following the guideline of Qur’an. So that, it can bring us to the Heaven and we will save from the torture of the Hell. As Imam Ath-Thabari rahimahullah mentions in his tafsir,
“Amr bin Qais Al-Mula’i from Ikrimah, from Ibn ‘Abbas. He said,
تضمن الله لمن قرأ القرآن، واتبع ما فيه أن لا يضل في الدنيا ولا يشقى في الآخرة ، ثم تلا هذه الآية
“Allah guarantees those who read Qur’an and follow the theory in it, then they will not lost in the world and get hurt in the Hereafter, then Ibn Abbas read the verse below.
فَمَنِ اتَّبَعَ هُدَايَ فَلَا يَضِلُّ وَلَا يَشْقَىٰ
“Then whoever follows My guidance will neither go astray [in the world] nor suffer [in the Hereafter].” (Q.S. Thaha : 123)
See also : How to gain happiness in Islam [AdSense-B]
- Learn Tafsir Qur’an is one purpose of revealing Qur’an
Syaikh Muhammad Shallih Al-‘Utsaimin rahimahullah has explained,
فالقرآن الكريم نزل لأمور ثلاثة: التعبد بتلاوته، وفهم معانيه والعمل به
“Qur’an is revealed for three purposes : worship with reading it, understanding its meaning and apply it.”
Those three purposes are same important. If someone has been able to read Qur’an or memorize it, he will get a third purpose of revealing Qur’an. Do not stop there, continue by learning its tafsir, so he can apply the content of Qur’an.
- Get the delicacy of reading Qur’an
Al-Imam Ath-Thabari r.a. said in his tafsir book, Jami’ul Bayan, which reads
إني لأعجب ممن قرأ القرآن ولم يعلم تأويله كيف يلتذ بقراءته؟
“Indeed I really wonder to those who read Qur’an, but they do not know its tafsir, then how do they feel the delicacy of their reading?” (Mu’jamul Adibba’ : 8/63, Mudharat fi ‘Ulumil Qur’an)
- Get the perfectness of religion and the world
Allah Ta’ala said about Rasulullah Shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam,
كِتَابٌ أَنْزَلْنَاهُ إِلَيْكَ لِتُخْرِجَ النَّاسَ مِنَ الظُّلُمَاتِ إِلَى النُّورِ بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِمْ إِلَىٰ صِرَاطِ الْعَزِيزِ الْحَمِيدِ
“(this is) a Book which have revealed to you [O Muhammad], that you might bring mankind out of darkness into the light by permission of their Lord – to the path of the Exalted in Might, the Praiseworthy –“ (Q.S. Ibrahim : 1)
This verse shows us to learn tafsir especially tafsir Qur’an because it can get out us from darkness, foolishness, kufur, bad deeds and others to the light of science, faith and good deeds. So that, we will get the perfectness of religion and the world.
- Must explain Qur’an
When you learn about tafsir Qur’an, you will be knower and smarter than others. You must explain your tafsir Qur’an to others, so you can also bring them to the light. As the word of Allah SWT below :
“And when Allah took a covenant from those who were given the Scripture, [saying], “You must make it clear to the people and not conceal it.” (Q.S. Ali Imran : 187)
- Find many laws and wisdoms in tafsir Qur’an
If you want to know more about laws in Islam, you can read tafsir Qur’an. In there, you will find all of laws in Islam that those can be a guideline in your life. So, you will always be in the right way and get many wisdoms from it.
See also : Obligations of seeking knowledge in Islam
- Know basics of sciences
If you learn about tafsir Qur’an, you will know that there are many basics of sciences in it. Those are what we learn at school. Because of that, Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala commands His believers to learn tafsir Qur’an. So, you will know anything and apply it in your daily life. [AdSense-C]
- Ease someone to get solution in his problem
Learning tafsir Qur’an can help and ease you to solve your problem. Because in there, there are many examples from the Prophets, people in the past and others that can be your role model. So insha Allah, you will not do wrong to solve your problem.
- Fill you with faith
Reading and learning tafsir Qur’an do not only fill our mind with knowledge, but it will fill our heart with faith, too. Qur’an is the cure and it gives guidline us. So we know the way that we have to go through or avoid.
See also : Ways how to improve faith in Islam
- Be not misunderstand with the content of Qur’an
By learning tafsir, we will know clearly about the content of Qur’an. So we will not easily get carried away to heresies.
Thus the article about 13 importance of tafsir in Islam. Hopefully, Allah Ta’ala makes us as those who are eased to learn tafsir Qur’an and apply it. Aamiiin.