Explain the development of Tafsir from the time of the Prophet to the era of the Tāb‘iūn.

Answer Details

The development of Tafsir from the time of the Prophet to the era of the Tabi'un

Tafsir means the explanation and interpretation of the meanings of the Qur'an. Its development passed through the following stages:

1. The era of the Prophet (S.A.W.): The Prophet was the first and foremost interpreter of the Qur'an. When verses were ambiguous or general, the companions asked him and he clarified their meaning by word or deed. His Sunnah explained and detailed what the Qur'an stated briefly, for example demonstrating how to pray and perform Hajj. Revelation itself sometimes explained earlier verses.
2. The era of the Companions (Sahabah): After the Prophet, learned companions took up the task of interpretation, relying on their knowledge of the Arabic language, the circumstances of revelation (asbab an-nuzul) which they had witnessed, and what they had learned from the Prophet. Notable exegetes included 'Ali b. Abi Talib, 'Abdullah b. 'Abbas (called the interpreter of the Qur'an), 'Abdullah b. Mas'ud and Ubayy b. Ka'b. Ibn 'Abbas was especially outstanding, and the Prophet prayed for him to be given understanding of the Book.
3. The era of the Successors (Tabi'un): The students of the companions continued the work, forming centres of learning. In Makkah the school of Ibn 'Abbas produced scholars such as Mujahid, 'Ikrimah and 'Ata'; in Madinah the school of Ubayy b. Ka'b; and in Kufah the school of Ibn Mas'ud produced scholars such as Qatadah and al-Hasan al-Basri. During this period Tafsir was mainly transmitted orally alongside Hadith, but the range of interpretation widened, some material from the People of the Book (Isra'iliyyat) entered, and the foundation was laid for the later written, systematic works of Tafsir.