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The tafsir prompt is specialized for translating Quranic commentary (tafsir) - exegetical works that explain verses, discuss theological attributes, and include grammatical analysis.

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What It’s For

Use the tafsir prompt when translating:
  • Classical tafsir works (Ibn Kathir, Tabari, Qurtubi, etc.)
  • Quranic commentary with verse citations
  • Texts discussing Allah’s attributes
  • Works with grammatical (i’rab) analysis
  • Poetry cited in exegesis
The tafsir prompt is automatically stacked on top of the master prompt. You get all master rules plus tafsir-specific guidance.

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Access the Tafsir Prompt

import { getPrompt } from 'wobble-bibble';

const tafsirPrompt = getPrompt('tafsir');
console.log(tafsirPrompt.name); // "Tafsir"
console.log(tafsirPrompt.content); // Master + tafsir rules combined

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Verse Citations

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Numeric Format Only

Use [surah:ayah] format. Do not include surah names unless the Arabic explicitly includes them. Wrong: {And establish prayer} [Al-Baqarah 2:43]
Right: {And establish prayer} [2:43]

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Quoted Quranic Text

When translating quoted Quran, use braces {...} followed by citation: 
{Say: He is Allah, the One} [112:1]
Critical: Do NOT output Arabic script for Quranic text. Translate into English and put in braces.
Wrong: {قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ} [112:1]
Right: {Say: He is Allah, the One} [112:1]

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Theological Attributes

The tafsir prompt handles Allah’s attributes according to the author’s theological position.

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Mirror the Author’s Theology

Critical principle: Translate attributes exactly as the author intends. Do not add metaphorical reinterpretation unless the author does.

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Literal vs. Figurative

Author SchoolAttribute HandlingExample
Salafi/AthariLiteral affirmation”Allah’s Hand” (literal)
Ash’ari/MaturidiMetaphorical”Allah’s power” (if author uses this)
Source (Athari author): 
يد الله حقيقية وليست مجازية
Output: 
Allah's Hand is real and not metaphorical
Source (Ash’ari author): 
المراد باليد القدرة
Output: 
What is meant by the Hand is the Power

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Common Attributes

  • Hand (يد)
  • Face (وجه)
  • Eyes (أعين / عينان)
  • Rising/Ascending (استواء)
  • Descending (نزول)
Translate according to the author’s methodology - do not impose a different theological interpretation.

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Grammatical (I’rab) Terms

When Arabic grammar is discussed, use these mappings:
ArabicEnglish
مبتدأSubject
خبرPredicate
فاعلAgent/Doer
مفعولObject
Example: Source: 
"الله" مبتدأ و"أحد" خبر
Output: 
"Allah" is the subject (mubtadaʾ) and "One" is the predicate (khabar)

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Prophet Names

Use Arabic name forms with full ALA-LC diacritics:
Common EnglishRequired Form
MosesMūsá
JesusʿĪsá
DavidDāwūd
JosephYūsuf
AbrahamIbrāhīm
NoahNūḥ
SolomonSulaymān
Wrong: “Jesus said…”
Right: “ʿĪsá said…”

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Poetry Formatting

When tafsir includes Arabic poetry for linguistic evidence:

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Line Breaks

Preserve line structure - one English line per Arabic line: Wrong (merged): 
He said: "The night is long and will not dawn, and what difference if you are troubled or secure."
Right (preserved): 
He said:
"The night is long and will not dawn,
And what difference if you are troubled or secure."

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No Bullets

Do not add bullet points or numbering to poetry lines.

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Prioritize Structure Over Rhyme

Focus on literal grammar and word order, not recreating Arabic rhyme scheme. Wrong: Attempting to rhyme English translation
Right: Literal structure preserving Arabic grammatical patterns

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When to Use

✅ Use tafsir prompt for:
  • Quranic commentary (tafsir)
  • Works explaining specific verses
  • Texts with theological attribute discussions
  • Exegesis with grammatical analysis
  • Poetry cited in Quranic context
❌ Don’t use for:
  • Hadith collections → Use hadith
  • Legal rulings → Use fiqh
  • Mixed scholarly works → Use encyclopedia_mixed

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Common Pitfalls

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1. Adding Surah Names

❌ Wrong: [Surah Al-Baqarah 2:255]
✅ Right: [2:255]

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2. Keeping Arabic Quranic Text

❌ Wrong: {قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ}
✅ Right: {Say: He is Allah, the One}

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3. Imposing Theological Interpretation

❌ Wrong: Changing “Hand” to “power” when author uses literal sense
✅ Right: Mirror the author’s exact theological position

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4. English Prophet Names

❌ Wrong: Moses, Jesus, David
✅ Right: Mūsá, ʿĪsá, Dāwūd

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5. Merging Poetry Lines

❌ Wrong: All lines in one paragraph
✅ Right: One English line per Arabic line

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Example Output

Input segment: 
P789 - قوله تعالى: {الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ}. "الحمد" مبتدأ و"لله" خبر. والمعنى: الثناء على الله بصفاته الحسنى. وقد قال بعض السلف: يد الله حقيقية.
Expected output: 
P789 - His statement, exalted is He: {Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds}. "Praise" is the subject (mubtadaʾ) and "to Allah" is the predicate (khabar). The meaning is: Laudation of Allah with His beautiful attributes. Some of the predecessors (salaf) said: Allah's Hand is real.

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Integration with Validation

import { getPrompt, validateTranslationResponse } from 'wobble-bibble';

const prompt = getPrompt('tafsir');

// Send prompt.content to LLM...
const llmOutput = "P789 - His statement, exalted is He...";

// Validate the response
const validation = validateTranslationResponse(llmOutput, sourceSegments);

if (!validation.isValid) {
  console.error('Validation errors:', validation.errors);
}

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Next Steps

Hadith Prompt

For hadith collections often cited in tafsir

Fiqh Prompt

For legal rulings derived from Quranic verses

Encyclopedia Mixed

For works mixing tafsir with other genres

Validation Guide

Learn how outputs are validated

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