Imam Ibn Kathir
Language: English | Format: PDF | Volumes: 10 | Pages: 5698 | Size: 30 MB
Tafsir of Ibn Kathir: is the most
renowned and accepted explanation of the Qur’an in the entire world. In
it one finds the best presentation of Ahadith, history, and scholarly
commentary. This book is a compilation of the Abridged Tafsir Ibn Kathir
Volume 1 – 10. The purpose of this book is to compile the whole
collection so that anyone can read and search the wonderful Tasfir of
Ibn Kathir easily. Feel free to share this with your friends, family,
anyone!
Ibn Kathir was born in the city of Busra
in 701 H. His father was the Friday speaker of the village, but he died
while Ibn Kathir was only four years old. Ibn Kathir’s brother, Shaykh
Abdul-Wahhab, reared him and taught him until he moved to Damascus in
706 H., when he was five years old.
Ibn Kathir’s Teachers
Ibn Kathir studied Fiqh – Islamic
jurisprudence – with Burhan Ad-Din, Ibrahim bin `Abdur-Rahman Al-Fizari,
known as Ibn Al-Firkah (who died in 729 H). Ibn Kathir heard Hadiths
from `Isa bin Al-Mutim, Ahmad bin Abi Talib, (Ibn Ash-Shahnah) (who died
in 730 H), Ibn Al-Hajjar, (who died in 730 H), and the Hadith narrator
of Ash-Sham (modern day Syria and surrounding areas); Baha Ad-Din
Al-Qasim bin Muzaffar bin `Asakir (who died in 723 H), and Ibn
Ash-Shirdzi, Ishaq bin Yahya Al-Ammuddi, also known as `Afif Ad-Din, the
Zahiriyyah Shaykh who died in 725 H, and Muhammad bin Zarrad. He
remained with Jamal Ad-Din, Yusuf bin Az-Zaki AlMizzi who died in 724 H,
he benefited from his knowledge and also married his daughter. He also
read with Shaykh Al-Islam, Taqi Ad-Din Ahmad bin `Abdul-Halim bin
`Abdus-Salam bin Taymiyyah who died in 728 H. He also read with the Imam
Hafiz and historian Shams Ad-Din, Muhammad bin Ahmad bin Uthman bin
Qaymaz Adh-Dhahabi, who died in 748 H. Also, Abu Musa Al-Qarafai, Abu
Al-Fath Ad-Dabbusi and ‘Ali bin `Umar As-Suwani and others who gave him
permission to transmit the knowledge he learned with them in Egypt.
In his book, Al-Mu jam Al-Mukhtas,
Al-Hafiz Adh-Dhaliabi wrote that Ibn Kathir was, “The Imam, scholar of
jurisprudence, skillful scholar of Hadith, renowned Fagih and scholar of
Tafsir who wrote several beneficial books.”
Further, in Ad-Durar Al-Kdminah, Al-Hafiz
Ibn Hajar AlAsqalani said, “Ibn Kathir worked on the subject of the
Hadith in the areas of texts and chains of narrators. He had a good
memory, his books became popular during his lifetime, and people
benefited from them after his death.”
Also, the renowned historian Abu
Al-Mahasin, Jamal Ad-Din Yusuf bin Sayf Ad-Din (Ibn Taghri Bardi), said
in his book, AlManhal As-Safi, “He is the Shaykh, the Imam, the great
scholar `Imad Ad-Din Abu Al-Fida’. He learned extensively and was very
active in collecting knowledge and writing. He was excellent in the
areas of Fiqh, Tafsfr and Hadith. He collected knowledge, authored
(books), taught, narrated Hadith and wrote. He had immense knowledge in
the fields of Hadith, Tafsir, Fiqh, the Arabic language, and so forth.
He gave Fatawa (religious verdicts) and taught until he died, may Allah
grant him mercy. He was known for his precision and vast knowledge, and
as a scholar of history, Hadith and Tafsir.”
Ibn Kathir’s Students
Ibn Hajji was one of Ibn Kathir’s
students, and he described Ibn Kathir: “He had the best memory of the
Hadith texts. He also had the most knowledge concerning the narrators
and authenticity, his contemporaries and teachers admitted to these
qualities. Every time I met him I gained some benefit from him.”
Also, Ibn Al-`Imad Al-Hanbali said in his
book, Shadhardt Adh-Dhahab, “He is the renowned Hafiz `Imad Ad-Din,
whose memory was excellent, whose forgetfulness was miniscule, whose
understanding was adequate, and who had good knowledge in the Arabic
language.” Also, Ibn Habib said about Ibn Kathir, “He heard knowledge
and collected it and wrote various books. He brought comfort to the ears
with his Fatwas and narrated Hadith and brought benefit to other
people. The papers that contained his Fatwas were transmitted to the
various (Islamic) provinces. Further, he was known for his precision and
encompassing knowledge.”
Ibn Kathir’s Books
1 – One of the greatest books that Ibn
Kathir wrote was his Tafsir of the Noble Qur’an, which is one of the
best Tafsir that rely on narrations [of Ahadith, the Tafsir of the
Companions, etc.]. The Tafsir by Ibn Kathir was printed many times and
several scholars have summarized it.
2- The History Collection known as
Al-Biddyah, which was printed in 14 volumes under the name Al-Bidayah
wanNihdyah, and contained the stories of the Prophets and previous
nations, the Prophet’s Seerah (life story) and Islamic history until his
time. He also added a book Al-Fitan, about the Signs of the Last Hour.
3- At-Takmil ft Ma`rifat Ath-Thiqat wa
Ad-Du’afa wal Majdhil which Ibn Kathir collected from the books of his
two Shaykhs Al-Mizzi and Adh-Dhahabi; Al-Kdmal and Mizan Al-Ftiddl. He
added several benefits regarding the subject of Al-Jarh and AtT’adil.
4- Al-Hadi was-Sunan ft Ahadith
Al-Masdnfd was-Sunan which is also known by, Jami` Al-Masdnfd. In this
book, Ibn Kathir collected the narrations of Imams Ahmad bin Hanbal,
Al-Bazzar, Abu Ya`la Al-Mawsili, Ibn Abi Shaybah and from the six
collections of Hadith: the Two Sahihs [Al-Bukhari and Muslim] and the
Four Sunan [Abu Dawud, At-Tirmidhi, AnNasa and Ibn Majah]. Ibn Kathir
divided this book according to areas of Fiqh.
5-Tabaqat Ash-Shaf iyah which also contains the virtues of Imam Ash-Shafi.
6- Ibn Kathir wrote references for the Ahadith of Adillat AtTanbfh, from the Shafi school of Fiqh.
7- Ibn Kathir began an explanation of Sahih Al-Bukhari, but he did not finish it.
8- He started writing a large volume on the Ahkam (Laws), but finished only up to the Hajj rituals.
9- He summarized Al-Bayhaqi’s ‘Al-Madkhal. Many of these books were not printed.
10- He summarized `Ulum Al-Hadith, by Abu
`Amr bin AsSalah and called it Mukhtasar `Ulum Al-Hadith. Shaykh Ahmad
Shakir, the Egyptian Muhaddith, printed this book along with his
commentary on it and called it Al-Ba’th Al-Hathfth fi Sharh Mukhtasar
`Ulum Al-Hadith.
11- As-Sfrah An-Nabawiyyah, which is contained in his book Al-Biddyah, and both of these books are in print.
12- A research on Jihad called Al-Ijtihad ft Talabi Al-Jihad, which was printed several times.
Ibn Kathir’s Death
Al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar Al-Asgalani said, “Ibn
Kathir lost his sight just before his life ended. He died in Damascus
in 774 H.” May Allah grant mercy upon Ibn Kathir and make him among the
residents of His Paradise.
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