THE EXTENT OF TAFSIR OF THE QUR'AN NARRATED FROM THE MESSENGER OF ALLAH ﷺ: RESEARCH AND COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF DIVERSE OPINIONS OF SCHOLARS

Abstract

The Quran is the divine revelation from Allah, sent to guide humanity until the Day of Judgment. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is regarded as the primary interpreter of the Quran, as mandated by Allah. His explanations were conveyed through his sayings, actions, and approvals, forming the foundation of Islamic teachings. However, scholars differ on the extent to which he explained the Quran’s meanings. Some, like Ibn Taymiyyah, argue that the Prophet provided a comprehensive explanation, while others, including Al-Suyuti, believe he clarified only selective verses. This paper critically examines both perspectives, analyzing their arguments and evaluating the scope of the Prophet’s exegesis. It also highlights the transmission of Quranic interpretation through the Companions, the Successors, and subsequent Islamic scholars. While significant Arabic literature exists on this topic, systematic research in Urdu remains scarce. This study is structured into four discussions: (1) Definition of Tafsir, (2) Arguments of scholars who assert that the Prophet ﷺ explained all meanings, (3) Arguments of scholars who claim he did not, and (4) A comparative analysis of both viewpoints.

Keywords: Hadith-based Tafsir, Qur'anic Exegesis Scholarly Opinions, Comparative Analysis, Early Tafsir Traditions, Qur'anic Sciences (Uloom al-Qur'an).