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Tafsir

Tafsir of the Qur’an: Ibn Kathir and At-Tabari

Every surah on Ayah Institute can be read beside its commentary. The tafsir here is Tafseer bil-Ma’thur — narration-based commentary, meaning the Qur’an is explained by other verses of the Qur’an, by the Prophet’s own explanations, and by the reports of the Companions and their successors, rather than by later opinion. The two sources are the standard ones for that method.

Tafsir Ibn Kathir

Isma’il ibn Kathir’s Tafsir al-Qur’an al-‘Azim is the most widely read of the classical commentaries: concise, heavy on hadith, and careful to say which reports are sound. It is available here in English text for every surah, and in Urdu audio for all 114 surahs.

Tafsir al-Tabari

At-Tabari’s Jami’ al-Bayan is the earliest of the great commentaries to survive intact and the one the later ones draw on. Where it is included, it is shown as a second source beside Ibn Kathir so the two can be read against each other.

How to read the tafsir

  1. Open any surah from the list below, or from the Qur’an library.
  2. Tap Tafsir on any ayah to open the commentary drawer.
  3. Switch source at the top of the drawer, or press play on the Urdu audio.

Tafsir by surah

All 114 surahs, each with its Arabic text, translation and commentary on one page.