Our Tafseer course offers insightful knowledge on the meanings, context, and wisdom of the Quran. By studying the chosen Surahs systematically, the students acquire a new understanding of the divine message, its historical background and the ways it may be applied to the day-to-day life. Topics that are discussed include linguistic interpretation, motives of revelation (Asbab al-Nuzul), and authentic scholar interpretations.
This course enables students to identify with the Quran in a new level where they do not just recite but understand it. We also consider verses in their thematic context and seek out connections between various sections of the Quran and lessons we can learn in modern life, even though we do so in a traditional scholarly manner.
The course starts with basic information and goes to the level of advanced analysis, so that the students gain the overall picture of the message of Quran. We cite classical texts of Tafseer such as that of Ibn Kathir, Al-Tabari and Al-Qurtubi besides responding to current issues and problems confronting Muslims in the contemporary world.
We use a mixture of conventional Islamic and modern delivery of teaching. Every session involves a direct interaction with Quranic text, interpretation debate and contemplation of application. Students learn how to further study Tafseer on their own after the course.
A special focus is put on the holistic interpretation of the Quran - how the verses are interrelated and what the whole message of Islam entails. We underline that we do not want to be misinterpreted and we keep in touch with the real traditions of scholarship and the principles of the Arabic language.