A translation tells you what an ayah says. A tafseer (commentary) tells you what it means: the context in which it was revealed, how the Prophet ﷺ and his companions explained it, related ayahs and hadith, and the lessons scholars drew from it. Reading the Quran with a tafseer is how most people move from reading to understanding.
Urdu readers are fortunate to have a great treasury of tafaseer, each a valuable work of scholarship. IslamOne has 46 complete tafaseer, 44 in Urdu and 2 in English, free to read ayah by ayah next to the Arabic. This guide explains the main kinds, the best-known works, and how to pick one to start with. You can browse them all at islamone.app/tafseer.
Three kinds of tafseer
- Classical tafaseer, translated into Urdu. Written in Arabic centuries ago by the great early scholars, and translated into Urdu. They rely heavily on hadith and the statements of the companions and their students. Examples: Ibn Kathir, Qurtubi, Jalalain, Baghawi.
- The great Urdu tafaseer. Written in Urdu by scholars of South Asia in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Many are multi-volume works that combine the classical sources with guidance for their own time. Examples: Maarif-ul-Quran, Tafheem-ul-Quran, Tafseer-e-Usmani, Tadabbur-e-Quran.
- Concise, modern tafaseer. Shorter notes in easy, contemporary Urdu: a good place to start. Examples: Aasan Quran (Taqi Usmani), Ahsan-ul-Bayan, Taiseer-ul-Quran, Fahm-ul-Quran.
Classical tafaseer (translated into Urdu)
Tafseer Ibn Kathir (Tafseer Ibn-e-Kaseer)
By Imam Ibn Kathir (d. 774 AH). Perhaps the most widely read classical tafseer in the world. It explains the Quran by the Quran itself, then by hadith and the sayings of the companions. On IslamOne it is in the Urdu translation of Maulana Muhammad Junagarhi. Read Ibn Kathir.
Tafseer Qurtubi
By Imam al-Qurtubi (d. 671 AH). Famous for its detailed discussion of the rulings (ahkam) that each ayah contains. Read Qurtubi.
Tafseer Jalalain
Begun by Jalal ad-Din al-Mahalli and completed by Jalal ad-Din as-Suyuti: a short, ayah-by-ayah explanation that has been taught for centuries as a first tafseer. Read Jalalain.
Other classical works on IslamOne
- Tafseer Baghawi, by Imam al-Baghawi (d. 516 AH): a classic explanation based on reports from the early generations.
- Durr-e-Mansoor, by Imam as-Suyuti: collects the narrations reported on each ayah.
- Ahkam-ul-Quran, by Imam Abu Bakr al-Jassas: focuses on the legal rulings in the Quran.
- Madarik-ut-Tanzil, by Imam an-Nasafi: a concise classical commentary.
- Tafseer-e-Mazhari, by Qazi Sanaullah Panipati.
- Tafseer Saadi, by Sheikh Abdur Rahman as-Sa'di: clear and focused on lessons and guidance.
- Tafseer Ibn Abbas.
- Fi Zilal al-Quran, by Sayyid Qutb.
The great Urdu tafaseer
Maarif-ul-Quran (Mufti Muhammad Shafi)
By Mufti Muhammad Shafi (1897–1976). One of the most read Urdu tafaseer: a full, balanced commentary that brings in the classical sources, rulings and practical lessons. Also available in English. Read Maarif-ul-Quran, or the English edition. A different work with the same name, by Maulana Idris Kandhalwi, is also on IslamOne: Maarif-ul-Quran (Kandhalwi).
Tafheem-ul-Quran (Maududi)
By Syed Abul Ala Maududi (1903–1979). Written in fluent, modern Urdu, with an introduction to every surah explaining its background and themes. Widely read by students and professionals. Read Tafheem-ul-Quran, or the English edition (Towards Understanding the Quran).
Tafseer-e-Usmani
By Maulana Shabbir Ahmad Usmani: concise notes written on the translation of Shaykh-ul-Hind Maulana Mahmood Hasan. A classic in many South Asian homes. Read Tafseer-e-Usmani.
Bayan-ul-Quran (Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi)
By Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi: a careful, precise translation and commentary. Read Bayan-ul-Quran (Thanvi).
Tadabbur-e-Quran (Amin Ahsan Islahi)
By Maulana Amin Ahsan Islahi (1904–1997). Known for its study of the coherence (nazm) of each surah: how its ayahs and themes connect. Includes surah introductions. Read Tadabbur-e-Quran.
Tafseer-e-Majidi (Abdul Majid Daryabadi)
By Maulana Abdul Majid Daryabadi (1892–1977): concise notes, often comparing the Quran's accounts with other scriptures and history. Read Tafseer-e-Majidi.
More Urdu tafaseer on IslamOne
- Tibyan-ul-Quran, by Allama Ghulam Rasool Saeedi.
- Anwar-ul-Bayan, by Maulana Ashiq Ilahi Madani.
- Tafseer-e-Haqqani, by Maulana Abdul Haq Haqqani.
- Mualim-ul-Irfan, by Maulana Abdul Hameed Swati.
- Jawahir-ul-Quran, by Maulana Ghulam Ullah Khan.
- Kashf-ur-Rahman, by Maulana Ahmad Saeed Dehlvi.
- Mazhar-ul-Quran, by Shah Muhammad Mazharullah Dehlvi.
- Siraj-ul-Bayan, by Allama Muhammad Hanif Nadvi.
- Ruh-ul-Quran, by Dr Muhammad Aslam Siddiqui.
- Mutaliya-e-Quran, by Professor Hafiz Ahmad Yar.
- Asrar-ut-Tanzil, by Maulana Muhammad Akram Awan.
- Baseerat-e-Quran, by Maulana Muhammad Asif Qasmi, with surah introductions.
- Ahsan-ut-Tafaseer, Ashraf-ul-Hawashi, Anwar-ul-Bayan (Muhammad Ali), Tafseer-al-Kitaab, Urwatul-Wusqaa and Mufradat-ul-Quran, a dictionary of the Quran's words.
Concise, modern tafaseer: where to start
Aasan Quran (Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani)
Short explanatory notes on the easy Urdu translation "Aasan Tarjuma-e-Quran", with surah introductions. For many readers a very good first tafseer. Read Aasan Quran.
Ahsan-ul-Bayan (Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf)
Concise notes on the translation of Maulana Muhammad Junagarhi, widely distributed in printed Qurans. Read Ahsan-ul-Bayan.
Bayan-ul-Quran (Dr Israr Ahmed)
From the scholar whose lectures on the Quran reached millions: direct and thought-provoking. Read Bayan-ul-Quran.
Other accessible tafaseer
- Taiseer-ul-Quran, by Maulana Abdur Rahman Kilani.
- Fahm-ul-Quran, by Mian Muhammad Jameel, with surah introductions.
- Tafseer al-Quran al-Kareem, by Maulana Abdus Salam Bhutvi.
- Tafseer-e-Madani, by Maulana Ishaq Madani.
- Mafhoom-ul-Quran, by Riffat Aijaz.
How to choose a tafseer
- Just starting: a concise tafseer in easy Urdu, such as Aasan Quran or Ahsan-ul-Bayan. Read one surah with it from start to end.
- Want the classical explanation, with hadith: Tafseer Ibn Kathir.
- Want depth and practical guidance: Maarif-ul-Quran or Tafheem-ul-Quran.
- Want to see how a surah fits together: Tadabbur-e-Quran.
- Reading in English: Maarif-ul-Quran (English) or Tafheem-ul-Quran (English).
- Want a personal recommendation: ask a scholar or teacher you trust which tafseer they suggest.
You don't have to choose only one. On IslamOne, every ayah's page shows the notes of every tafseer on that ayah, so you can compare. For example, see the tafseer of Ayatul Kursi (2:255) in 45 tafaseer, or Surah Yasin in Ibn Kathir.
How to read a tafseer on IslamOne
- Open a tafseer, for example Ibn Kathir, and choose a surah. Each passage of ayahs is shown with its Arabic and translation, followed by the commentary.
- Switch to another tafseer of the same surah from the list at the bottom of the page, or from the book menu.
- Use "slides" mode to read one passage at a time.
- Bookmark any passage and continue later; sign in to keep your place on all your devices.
خلاصہ
ترجمہ بتاتا ہے کہ آیت کیا کہتی ہے، اور تفسیر بتاتی ہے کہ اس کا مطلب کیا ہے: شانِ نزول، احادیث، صحابہ کرام کی وضاحت اور اسباق۔ IslamOne پر 46 مکمل تفاسیر مفت موجود ہیں، جن میں تفسیر ابن کثیر، معارف القرآن، تفہیم القرآن، تفسیر عثمانی، تدبر قرآن، آسان قرآن اور احسن البیان شامل ہیں۔ ابتدا کے لیے کوئی مختصر اور آسان تفسیر، جیسے آسان قرآن یا احسن البیان، بہتر ہے۔