Tafseer Usool at-Tafseer

each chapter. In his discussions of the various recitations, he limits himself to the
authentic seven and attributes each to its reciter. An-Nasafee debated the various
legal issues connected with verses by explaining the arguments of each math-hab,
refuting them and supporting the positions of his own math-hab, the Hanafee
school. Discussions of grammatical issues are mostly very brief. On the whole,
the tafseer is medium-sized and its style is brief and clear. 132
4. Tafseer al-Khaazin, Lubaab at-Ta’weel fee Ma‘aani at-Tanzeel
‘Alee ibn Khaleel ash-Shayhee (1279-1340 CE/678-740 AH) was known by
the nickname of “ al-Khaazin” (the warehouseman) because he used to be in
charge of a book warehouse in Damascus. This Shaafi‘ee scholar was born and
raised in Baghdaad, but did the greater part of his studies in Damascus. He wrote
a vast number of books on a variety of topics, such as the ten-volume work called
Maqbool al-Manqool, in which he gathered the hadeeths found in the Musnads of
ash-Shaafi‘ee and Ahmad, the six major books, the Muwatta’ of Maalik, and the
Sunan of ad-Daaraqutnee. His tafseer is a condensed version of al-Baghawee’s
tafseer with additions from earlier tafseers. He mentions many Biblical tales
(Israa’eeleeyaat) without evaluating them. Al-Khaazin also wrote extensively on
the battles which took place during the Prophet’s era wherever mention was made
of them in the verses. His tafseer also deals with legal issues in great detail,
sometimes touching on areas not related to tafseer at all. There is also great
emphasis in the tafseer on spiritual lessons and advice, a reflection of al-
Khaazin’s Soofee leanings. The tafseer is in seven medium-sized volumes and is
in wide circulation and is particularly liked by those who enjoy stories; however,
the tafseer needs critical revision before being used as a reliable reference for
scholars. 133
5. Tafseer Abee Hayyaan, al-Bahr al-Muheet
Muhammad ibn Yoosuf ibn Hayyaan al-Andaloosee (1256-1344 CE/654-745
AH), more commonly known by the name Aboo Hayyaan, was a scholar in the
field of recitations and poetry and was a master in the field of grammar. In his
early years, he belonged to the Thaahiree school of law, but later left it for the
Shaafi‘ee school. He studied in schools throughout North Africa and eventually
132 See at-Tafseer wal-Mufassiroon, vol. 1, pp. 311-17.
133 See at-Tafseer wal-Mufassiroon, vol. 1, pp. 318-24.