The difference between Tafseer and Taweel

Tafseer in language means clarification and demonstration, as Allah Almighty said:

(وَلا يَأْتُونَكَ بِمَثَلٍ إِلَّا جِلْنَاكَ بِالْحَقِّ وَأَحْسَنَ تفسيرا)

“And they do not come to you with an example except that we show you the truth and a better explanation” (Al-Furqan: 33).

So we say: Tafseer means to clarify, explain, and make clear, while the term “Mufassir” means clear and apparent speech.

As for Tafseer in terminology

It is a science by which one understands the Book of God revealed to His Prophet Muhammad, explains its meanings, and extracts its rulings and orders from the Almighty Allah. It has been defined by others as “a science that seeks to understand the Noble Quran in terms of its implications for the will of Allah in accordance with human capacity.”

Taweel

The meaning of Taweel: In language, it means to return or to refer back, as if the interpreter refers the verse to what it may imply from meanings. Some scholars consider Taweel as synonymous with Tafseer. One lexicon defines it as the first speech that is interpreted by the people of the earth, and Taweel means to examine, evaluate, and interpret it. Allah Almighty says: “ابْتِغَاءَ الْفِتْنَةِ وَابْتِغَاءَ تَأْوِيلِهِ (آل عمران : ٧)”

Taweel In terms of terminology

It means interpretation, and it is used interchangeably with Tafseer. Ibn Jarir al-Tabari said in his Tafseer: “Regarding the interpretation of this verse, some people of Taweel have differed,” meaning the people of Tafseer. And Mujahid said: “The scholars know its Taweel – meaning the Quran – and they mean interpreting its meaning.”

Some scholars have distinguished between the terms “tafsir” and “ta’wil,” which became more popular among later scholars. Tafsir refers to the apparent meaning of a Quranic verse, while ta’wil involves preferring certain possible meanings of a Quranic verse that may have several meanings. The famous scholar Al-Suyuti discussed this issue in his book “Al-Itqan fi Ulum al-Quran,” and cited the opinions of many scholars. The closest to the truth is that tafsir reveals the apparent meanings of the Quran, while ta’wil refers to the hidden meanings and divine secrets that can be derived by knowledgeable scholars from the possible meanings of a Quranic verse.

Preference: At-Tibyan fi Uloom al-Quran for shiekh Muhammad Ali As sabooni