Stories of the Scholars
Ibnu Katsir
الْحَافِظ ابْنُ كَثِيرٍ رَحِمَهُ اللهُ
Author of Tafsir Ibn Kathir & Al-Bidayah wan Nihayah (d. 774 H)
Isma'il bin Umar Ibnu Katsir was a student of Ibn Taymiyah who is widely known for his tafsir work, Tafsir Al-Qur'an Al-'Azhim (popularly called Tafsir Ibnu Katsir) — one of the most respected bil ma'tsur (history-based) tafsir, interpreting the Al-Qur'an with the Al-Qur'an itself, then the hadith, then the opinions of friends. He also wrote Al-Bidayah wan Nihayah, a history of the world from creation to its time which is one of the most comprehensive references to Islamic history. His works are a mandatory guide in almost every Islamic boarding school and interpretive study institutions throughout the world.
1Expert in Interpretation and History
Isma'il bin 'Umar Ibn Kathir (700–774 H) was born in Bushra, Syam, a student of Ibn Taimiyah and Al-Mizzi. He became one of the greatest experts on exegesis, hadith and history in Islam, with methods that adhered strongly to history.
📖 QS An-Nahl: 89
2Tafsir Al-Qur'an al-Azhim
His work, Tafsir Ibn Katsir, interprets the Koran with the Koran, then with the hadith, then the words of the companions and tabi'in - becoming the most famous and trusted tafsir bil-ma'tsur read by people throughout the world to this day.
📖 QS Al-Qiyamah: 19
3Al-Bidayah wan-Nihayah and His Death
In history, he wrote Al-Bidayah wan-Nihayah, from the creation of nature, the stories of the prophets, sirah, to the events of the end of time - the main reference for Qashash al-Anbiya. He died in Damascus in 774 AH with loss of sight, buried next to his teacher Ibn Taimiyah.
📖 QS Yusuf: 111