How do I choose a reliable tafsir?

For the beginner: Tafsir al-Sa'di

Clear in expression, close in meaning, it helps in understanding the general aim of the verse without long digression.

Read Tafsir al-Sa'di surah by surah and verse by verse ↗

For expansion: Tafsir Ibn Kathir

It transmits the interpretation of the Qur'an by the Qur'an, the Sunnah and the statements of the Salaf, and suits whoever wants a broader measure of evidences and reports.

For the advanced student

• Tafsir al-Tabari: One of the mother tafsirs, and Shaykh Ibn al-'Uthaymin, may Allah have mercy on him, mentioned that benefiting from it properly needs a higher level of knowledge.
• Adwa' al-Bayan by al-Shanqiti: One of the good tafsirs that the people of knowledge took care of, with evident care for interpreting the Qur'an by the Qur'an.

An important rule

Do not make the short clips or unsourced reflections the start of your path. Begin with a well-known tafsir, then ask the people of knowledge about what is unclear to you.