Tafsir al-Uthaymin: al-Ankabut

Tafsir al-Uthaymin: al-Ankabut (Tafsīr al-Qurʾān al-Karīm: Sūrat al-ʿAnkabūt) is a commentary on Surat al-Ankabut by the Saudi scholar Muhammad ibn Salih al-Uthaymin (d. 1421 AH / 2001 CE) Taaqibat Jamal al-Din al-….

Origin and Methodology

The work originated as oral lessons delivered by Ibn Uthaymin, in which he used Tafsir al-Jalalayn by Jalal al-Din al-Mahalli (d. 864 AH) and Jalal al-Din al-Suyuti (d. 911 AH) as the instructional base text for students Tafsir al-Uthaymin: al-Na…. In expounding the verses, Ibn Uthaymin provided detailed explanations of vocabulary, linguistic nuances, legal rulings, theological points, and moral benefits derived directly from the text of the surah Tafsir al-Uthaymin: al-Na….

Themes and Scope

The commentary covers the entirety of Surat al-Ankabut, which consists of sixty-nine verses Tafsir al-Qasimi Mahasin …+1. The surah derives its name from verse 41, which presents the metaphor comparing those who take protectors besides God to a spider building a fragile home Tafsir al-Qasimi Mahasin …+1:

مَثَلُ الَّذِينَ اتَّخَذُوا مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ أَوْلِيَاءَ كَمَثَلِ الْعَنْكَبُوتِ اتَّخَذَتْ بَيْتًا وَإِنَّ أَوْهَنَ الْبُيُوتِ لَبَيْتُ الْعَنْكَبُوتِ لَوْ كَانُوا يَعْلَمُونَ "The example of those who take allies other than Allah is like that of the spider who takes a home. And indeed, the weakest of homes is the home of the spider, if they only knew."

The commentary addresses several core topics found in the chapter, including:

• Divine testing and trials as a necessary means of distinguishing genuine believers from hypocrites al-Tafsir al-Hadith+1.
• The obligation of kindness to parents, along with the prohibition of obeying them if they demand associating partners with God al-Tafsir al-Hadith+1.
• Narratives of earlier prophetic missions, including those of Noah, Abraham, Lot, and Shu'ayb, and the destruction of past nations that rejected their messengers al-Tafsir al-Hadith.
• Exhortations to patience, steadfastness in faith, and striving in God's path al-Tafsir al-Hadith+1.

Publication

The text was prepared from Ibn Uthaymin's recorded lessons and edited by the Academic Department of the Sheikh Muhammad bin Saleh Al-Uthaymeen Charitable Foundation, following the editorial guidelines set during his lifetime, and issued as part of his multi-surah exegesis series Tafsir al-Uthaymin: al-Na…+1.