Classical Islamic Commentary

Tafseer(Arabic: تفسير) means "explanation" or "interpretation." It refers to the scholarly commentary tradition that has developed around the Quran over 1,400 years.

Classical tafseers are essential for understanding how early Muslims understood Quranic texts. They draw upon hadith, Arabic linguistics, historical context, and earlier scholarly opinions.

Why This Matters for Apologetics:Modern Muslim apologists often reinterpret Quranic verses to address contemporary objections. Classical tafseers provide the historical record of how these verses were originally understood — often quite differently from modern apologetic claims. This enables "internal critique" using Islamic sources themselves.