Tafsir Classes
Every Tuesday evening, between Maghrib and ‘Isha, the Jama’at gathers at the Jumu’a Mosque of Cape Town for a weekly journey through the meanings of the Qur’an. Led by Shaykh Isma-eel Isaacs, the class is dedicated to striving to study, explore and understand the āyāt of Allah’s Noble Book — one passage at a time, with depth, patience, and the intention, bi-idhni Allāh ta’āla, of completing the entire Qur’an.
The class began in July 2024 with Sūrah al-Fātiḥah. Exact timings each week are confirmed via the mosque’s WhatsApp and other communications channels.
The Teacher
The class is led by Shaykh Isma-eel Isaacs, Imam Khatib of the Jumu’a Mosque of Cape Town. Shaykh Isma-eel brings together his deep grounding in the Arabic language and his breadth of knowledge across the classical and contemporary tradition — illuminating the nuances of Qur’anic expression that translation alone cannot capture, and drawing on the full range of the tafsir heritage to ensure a well-rounded understanding of each verse.
| Day | Every Tuesday |
| Time | Between Maghrib and ‘Isha (confirmed weekly via WhatsApp) |
| Venue | Jumu’a Mosque of Cape Town |
| Open to | All — brothers and sisters, regulars and visitors alike |
Progress through the Qur’an
The class works through the Qur’an sequentially, surah by surah, with the intention of completing the entire Book over the coming years — in the way of the scholars who devoted their lives to this noble endeavour.
Sources and Scholars
Shaykh Isma-eel references a broad range of works to ensure a well-rounded understanding of each verse — from the linguistic subtleties of Qur’anic Arabic to the spiritual dimensions of the text. The tradition he draws on spans fourteen centuries of scholarship.
Sūrah al-Fātiḥah — The Opening
The class opened in July 2024 with Sūrah al-Fātiḥah — the seven oft-repeated verses that form the heart of every prayer, the Mother of the Book. Shaykh Isma-eel explored the basmala, the divine names al-Raḥmān and al-Raḥīm, the meaning of ḥamd, the nature of the Straight Path, and the significance of this surah as both supplication and covenant between the worshipper and their Lord.
Sūrah al-Fātiḥah: 1 class recorded. Watch on YouTube →
Sūrah al-Baqarah — The Cow
The longest surah in the Qur’an, al-Baqarah covers the full sweep of Islamic guidance: the nature of imān and its opposite, the story of Adam, the Children of Israel and their covenant, the laws of fasting, marriage, divorce and inheritance, the āyat al-Kursī, and the surah’s majestic closing verses. The class worked through al-Baqarah over the course of the first year, completing it in 2025.
Sūrah al-Baqarah: the majority of the 69 recorded classes. Watch on YouTube →
Sūrah Āl ‘Imrān — The Family of ‘Imrān
The class is currently at the beginning of Sūrah Āl ‘Imrān — the surah of steadfastness, the Battle of Uḥud, the story of Maryam and ‘īsā (peace be upon them), and the verses on sincere devotion to Allah. This is where the class stands today; new recordings are added to the playlist each week, bi-idhni Allāh ta’āla.
The full playlist — 69 classes and growing — covers Sūrah al-Fātiḥah, the complete Sūrah al-Baqarah, and the ongoing Sūrah Āl ‘Imrān. New recordings are uploaded after each Tuesday class.
Join Us
The class is open to all — no prior knowledge of Arabic or tafsir is required, only a sincere desire to engage with the words of Allah. Whether you attend in person or follow along through the recordings, you are welcome.
Class timings each Tuesday are announced via the mosque’s WhatsApp Community. To receive notifications, join via the link below.