English abstract
This research aims at collecting and highlighting the Qur'anic sciences involved in the interpretation of al-Hāfiz Ibn Kathir (may Allah have mercy with him). It aims at studying his contribution to this specialization. The research elucidates the environment in which Ibn Kathir lived, and how the learned environment influenced Ibn Kathir's personality as a scholar. The research introduces Ibn Kathir's vita, his descent and his rich scholarly activities.
The study is divided into ten sections. The first section talks about the life of Ibn Kathir and his interpretation of the Holy Quran, whereas the other nine sections study the Qur'anic sciences as spread throughout his in his Tafsīr.
The first of these sections focuses on the knowledge of Meccan and Medinese Qur'anic verses. Ibn Kathir studied these efficiently and presented a practical method to take advantage of this knowledge in his Tafsīr.
The second section is about abrogation (al-Naskh), which he studied deeply, and implemented it in his interpretation of the Holy Quran and linked it to other Qur'anic sciences.
He then discussed the incidents of revelation (Asbab al-Nuzül) and studied them in detail. Ibn Kathir said that the reasons behind revelation of verses of the Holy Qur'an must be authenticated in its narration to the Prophet or his Companions. He also required that the event must have taken place during the time of prophecy to consider it as a true reason for the revelation of the Holy Quran.
The next section is about the Muḥkam, the verses with clear indication or Mutashabiħ, the verses with ambiguous indication. Ibn Kathir linked these by returning the interpretation of verses with ambiguous meaning to those clear in meaning. The sixth section is about the Qur'anic readings (al-Qirā'āt), which has a significant presence in his interpretation and which benefitted him in different ways. His addition to the Qur'anic readings was significant as well as his discussion about the strange ones (al-qirā'āt al-shādhdhah). He linked al-Aħruf Al-Sabʻah, the seven letters, and benefitted from this to explain the historical compilation of the Holy Qur'an.
As for the last four sections, they were dealt with less extensively. Ibn Kathīr's interest was modest in al-Waqf, the places where people pause while reading the Holy Quran, and al-Ibtidā' the places where people start from, albeit its importance. He mentioned al-Waqf and al- Ibtida' only when he needed to in his interpretation to clarify the meaning of some Qur'anic verses. The same is true for the science of al-Wujūh and al-Nasā'ir, Qur'anic synonymous terms in different contexts. This science was less studied by Ibn Kathir than their predecessors of the Qur'anic Sciences. Ibn Kathir dealt with these in different places rather than collecting them in one place. As for the Mu'arrabāt, arabicised loan words in the Qur'an, he gave this topic the smallest share in his work.
Despite these, Ibn Kathir's presentation about was revealed first and last from the Holy Qur'an was moderate and supported by evidences and discussed the different dicta.
