Tafsir Ibn Kathir in English - 10 Volume Set

Tafsir Ibn Kathir in English is the complete 10-volume Darussalam set of the most widely read Quran commentary in the Muslim world. Across about 6,600 pages it explains the Quran verse by verse, from Surah Al-Fatihah to Surah An-Nas, using the Quran itself, the authentic Sunnah and the explanations of the Companions and their students. It is the English edition of the abridged Tafsir Ibn Kathir, translated by a group of scholars under the supervision of Shaykh Safiur Rahman Mubarakpuri, and it is available here in two editions, Golden and Simple, with delivery across Saudi Arabia.

If you are looking for one English tafsir of the Quran to keep at home, study from and return to for years, this is the set most often recommended first.

About Imam Ibn Kathir

Imad ad-Din Abu al-Fida Ismail ibn Umar ibn Kathir (701-774 AH, about 1300-1373 CE) was born near Busra in Syria and spent his scholarly life in Damascus. He studied under some of the leading scholars of his age, including Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah and the hadith master al-Mizzi, and became known as a scholar of tafsir, hadith, history and fiqh. Besides his tafsir, his best-known work is Al-Bidayah wan-Nihayah, a history from creation to his own time. Darussalam publishes selections from his work in English, including Stories of the Prophets and The Valley Came Alive.

Why Tafsir Ibn Kathir is the most trusted tafsir of the Quran

Ibn Kathir's Arabic original, Tafsir al-Quran al-Azim, follows a clear order of evidence that scholars still regard as the soundest way to explain the Quran:

• First, he explains a verse by other verses of the Quran that clarify it.
• Next, he brings the hadith of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) that explain or apply it.
• Then he cites the Companions, who witnessed the revelation, and the Tabi'un who learned from them.
• Finally, where needed, he draws on the Arabic language and the views of later scholars.

He is also careful with Isra'iliyyat, the stories taken from earlier scriptures. His tafsir uses far fewer of them than many other classical commentaries, and when he does mention one, he usually tells the reader how much weight it carries. That combination of sound method and restraint is why Tafsir Ibn Kathir is read in madrasahs, universities and homes across the world, and why so many later tafsir works build on it.

What this English edition contains

The Darussalam English Tafsir Ibn Kathir is an abridgement, not a summary. Every verse of the Quran is covered. What the editors removed is the material that slows most readers down: long repeated chains of narration, weak hadith and extended side discussions. What remains is Ibn Kathir's own explanation of each passage, including:

The meaning of each verse

Each passage of the Quran is given in Arabic with its English meaning, followed by Ibn Kathir's commentary on what it means and how the verses around it connect.

Hadith and the sayings of the Companions

The commentary brings the relevant hadith and reports from the Companions and Tabi'un, and the editors mention the level of authenticity of hadith wherever possible.

Circumstances of revelation

Where it is known, the tafsir explains the asbab an-nuzul, the events that led to a verse being revealed, which often changes how a verse is understood.

Rulings, recitations and lessons in faith

It sets out the legal rulings scholars have drawn from a passage, notes the variant recitations where they affect the meaning, and draws out the lessons in creed, worship and character that each passage teaches.

Tafsir Ibn Kathir English: set details

Golden Edition or Simple Edition?

Both options on this page are the full 10-volume English set with the same text. They differ only in binding finish and price. The Golden Edition suits a family library, a masjid or a gift, while the Simple Edition gives exactly the same tafsir for less when the set is mainly for study.

Who should buy this set

This set is for anyone who wants to understand the Quran in depth in English: students of knowledge, imams and teachers preparing lessons and khutbahs, reverts who want a reliable explanation of what they recite, and families who want one trusted reference at home. If a 10-volume set feels like too much to begin with, start with Tafsir Ibn Kathir 30th Part (Juz Amma) in English, which covers the short surahs most people recite in prayer, and add the full set later.

Other editions and related books

• Urdu readers can choose Tafsir Ibn-e-Kathir in Urdu (6 volumes).
• Arabic readers can choose Al-Misbah Al-Munir, the Arabic abridgement of Tafsir Ibn Kathir prepared under the same supervision.
• To read the Quran text alongside the tafsir, pair it with The Noble Quran, Arabic and English.
• For the most authentic hadith collection, quoted throughout the tafsir, see Sahih Al-Bukhari in English (9 volumes).
• For the life of the Prophet, which gives the context for so many verses, see The Sealed Nectar by Shaykh Safiur Rahman Mubarakpuri.

Browse more commentaries and translations in the Translation & Tafseer collection or the full Quran collection.

Tafsir Ibn Kathir: frequently asked questions

How many volumes is Tafsir Ibn Kathir in English?

Darussalam's English Tafsir Ibn Kathir is a 10-volume set of about 6,600 pages. Together the volumes cover the whole Quran, from Surah Al-Fatihah to Surah An-Nas, verse by verse.

What was the original language of Tafsir Ibn Kathir?

Arabic. Imam Ibn Kathir wrote it in Damascus in the 14th century under the title Tafsir al-Quran al-Azim. This set is the English translation of the abridged Arabic text, prepared by a group of scholars under the supervision of Shaykh Safiur Rahman Mubarakpuri.

Is this the complete or the abridged Tafsir Ibn Kathir?

It is the abridged edition, and every verse of the Quran is still covered. The abridgement removes repeated chains of narration, weak hadith and lengthy side discussions, so what remains is Ibn Kathir's explanation supported by authentic narrations, with the grading of hadith mentioned where possible.

Who translated Tafsir Ibn Kathir into English?

The Darussalam English edition was translated and abridged by a group of scholars working under the supervision of Shaykh Safiur Rahman Mubarakpuri, the author of the prize-winning seerah The Sealed Nectar.

What is the difference between the Golden Edition and the Simple Edition?

Both variants contain the same complete 10-volume English text. They differ in binding finish and price, so choose the Golden Edition for a library or as a gift, and the Simple Edition if you want the same content at a lower price.

Is Tafsir Ibn Kathir suitable for beginners?

Yes, if you read it steadily. The English is clear and each passage explains the verse first before bringing in hadith and the sayings of the Companions. A good way to begin is Juz Amma, the 30th part, before working through the full set, and Darussalam Store sells that part as a separate single volume.

Is Tafsir Ibn Kathir available in Urdu or Arabic?

Yes. Darussalam Store also carries Tafsir Ibn-e-Kathir in Urdu as a 6-volume set, and Al-Misbah Al-Munir, the Arabic abridgement of Tafsir Ibn Kathir.