Introduction to the Tafsir of Ibn Kathir. Part 1.2: on interpreting the Qur’an only according to one’s own opinion

Abstract

This article continues a series of publications of the Russian translation of the introduction (muqaddimah) to the commentary of the Qur’an “Tafsir al-Qur’an al-‘azim” (Commentary on the Great Qur’an) by the most famous and popular exegete of the traditionalist trend of Islamic thought (ahl al-ḥadīth) – Isma‘il ibn ‘Umar ibn Kathir (d. 1373). This second part of the first section of the introduction discusses the issue of interpretation of the Qur’an according to one’s own opinion. At its beginning, it is unequivocally proclaimed that such an interpretation is forbidden (ḥarām). This ban confirms by the traditions with references to Tirmidhi, Nasa’i, Abu Dawud, Malik and other Sunni Hadith scholars, as well as, to a large extent, the work of Abu ‘Ubaid “Fada’il al-Qur’an” (The Virtues of the Qur’an) and, especially, tafsir Tabari. At the same time, the author expresses his critical remarks regarding the reliability of some traditions. In conclusion, Ibn Kathir agrees with the opinion of Ibn ‘Abbas, quoted by Tabari, about the existence of four types of ayats from the point of view of understanding. However, unlike his predecessor, Ibn Kathir does not explain in detail what applies to what and where to get knowledge about the language.