The Qur’an, like any other legislative and spiritual book, requires exegesis. Qur’anic exegesis, known as tafsir in Arabic, is essentially the knowledge through which one increases an understanding of the Qur’an and a comprehension of its commandments and wisdom.6 Qur’anic exegesis is a branch of knowledge dealing with “the method of the delivery of the words of the Qur’an, their interpretation, their individual and composite forms and expediencies.” 7 It is this science by which the Qur’an is understood, its meanings explained and its rulings derived. Thus the Qur’an is made accessible and intelligible to the reader.

What follows are the sources of qur’anic exegesis used by exegetes to interpret the Qur’an:

The first source of exegesis is the Qur’an itself. Many verses in the Qur’an compliment and clarify the meaning of other verses8

This use of intertextuality is considered significant in the study of linguistics9

The following is an example of the Qur’an explaining itself through relevant verses:

a. “The path of those you have favoured” is here unexplained but then elaborated upon in a verse elsewhere in the Qur’an. 10 [See below]

b. “Those whom God has favoured, such as the Prophets, loyal persons, martyrs and honourable men. How fine are such companions”

The second source is the traditions of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ 12. The Qur’an often mentions the Prophet’s ﷺrole of expounding upon the Qur’an in word and deed. 13

The third source is the explanations of the companions of the Prophet ﷺ, who learnt the Qur’an directly from him. Many of them devoted their entire lives to studying the Qur’an, its exegesis and related knowledge. 14

Another source of exegesis is the Arabic language in which the Qur’an was revealed. A verse is interpreted using the Arabic language as a tool for analysis if the other sources do not offer an interpretation.