Introduction to the science of Tafsir

Authored by Saleh Al-Thaniyan Introduction In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and blessings and peace be upon the master of the messengers, our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and companions all together. To proceed: This is an introduction to the science of Tafsir, which helps the student of knowledge understand this science and its tools, how it originated, its main sources and the most authentic methods, the most important books written about it and their characteristics, and the key principles that assist in understanding Tafsir. This introduction was written according to the curriculum: Introduction to the Science of Tafsir at the Islamic University in Madinah. I have divided this introduction into nine sections: First section: Definition of the science of Tafsir and related matters. Second section: Principles of the science of Usul al-Tafsir. Third section: The importance of the science of Tafsir, its rulings, virtues, conditions, and etiquettes. Fourth section: The emergence of Tafsir and its stages of development. Fifth section: Sources of Tafsir, the most authentic methods, and its types. Sixth section: Consensus and disagreement in Tafsir. Introduction to the science of Tafsir Seventh section: Approaches to Tafsir and the most famous works in it. Eighth section: The most important rules of Tafsir and the method of prioritization. Ninth section: Tafsir of Surah Al-Fatiha. This introduction concludes with the Tafsir of Surah Al-Fatiha, due to its great significance and high status in Islam. Understanding it is important because it is a pillar of prayer, which is the pillar of religion. May Allah send blessings and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad.