Tafsīr is derived from the Arabic word “fassara”which means to expound, explain or comment.
*Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) was the first Mufassir.
*The Science of Tafsīr began with the Qur’ān explaining itself. (Tafsīrul-‘Qur’ān bil Qur’ān).
*He used to explain the meaning of certain words as well as passages of the Qur’ān.
*He also explained the conditions under which certain revelations occurred-(asbābun-Nuzūl).
*The companions also asked him some questions pertaining to some verses of the Qur’ān
*At some points, Jibrīl (A.S.) explained the meaning of some verses to the Prophet (S.A.W.)
*The Prophet’s answers were stored in the memories of the companions.
*After the death of the Prophet (S.A.W.), question s on the verses were directed to the companions
*They gave explanations as learnt from the Prophet (S.A.W.)
*With the passage of time, Schools of <em>Tafsīr evolved in the cities where these companions settled.
*The Tafsīr School of Makkah grew around ibn ‘Abbās.
*‘Ubbay b. Ka‘b was in charge of Tafsīr in Madinah.
*In Iraq, the Tafsīr School of ‘Abdullah b. Mas‘ūd was popular.
*The next stage in the development of Tafsīr were the Tābi‘ūn whomade efforts to push forward the frontiers of knowledge in Tafsīr.
*These Tābi‘ūn travelled around cities to gather the views of the Mufassirūn in the same manner as the collection of Hadith.
*Among the Mufassirūn of this era are Sufyan b. ‘Uyaynah, Waki‘b. Al-Jarrah, Shu‘bah b. Al-Ḥajjāj and Isḥāq b. Rāhawayn.