Tafsir al-Qur'an al-Azim, popularly Tafsir ibn Kathir , is a classic Sunni Islam tafsir (commentary of the Qur'an) by Ibn Kathir.

It is considered to be a summary of the earlier tafsir by al-Tabari, Tafsir al-Tabari. It is especially popular because it uses hadith to explain each verse and chapter of the Qur'an.

Kathir is a very popular Tamil filmmaker. Composer A. R. Rahman had composed music for most of his films; and hence many of them were dubbed into Hindi and musically successful.

Kadhal Virus - 2001-02Written and Produced and Directed by KathirThe movie was produced by Kathir;s own production house SOUND & LIGHT STUDIOS. A heart wrenching film portrays a filmmaker’s sacred and eternal love. The film’s intense and passionate music was composed by A.R.Rahman. The astounding real computer graphics used in the song “Sonnalum keatpathilai Kanni manathu” got Kathir raving reviews. Through this film, which starred Vivek (comedian) and Abbas, Kathir introduced the lead actors, Sridevi and Richard and also a new cinematographer Arjun. The film received the State award for best photography.

Kathir was born in Kalkarai, a small village in the district of Thirunelveli, state of Tamil Nadu, India.

Kathir grew up in a middle class family as the only son along with his three sisters. His father Subbiah was a farmer and mother Isakiammal assisted him in his farming. Kathir had his elementary schooling in Kalkarai Chiristian elementary school. He finished his 5th standard there and joined Nehru middle school, Vadakangulam. After completing his 8th standard there he attended the Concordia high school, Vadakangulam for just one year to study 9th standard. Then he went to St. Teresa’s, Vadakangulam. He completed his school studies here.

Ismail ibn Kathir (Arabic: ابن كثير‎) (1301–1373) was a Muslim muhaddith, faqīh, mufassir, historian, and commentator.

His full name was Abu Al-Fida, 'Imad Ad-Din, Isma'il bin 'Umar bin Kathir, Al-Qurashi, Al-Busrawi. He was born in 1301 in Busra, Syria (hence Al-Busrawi) and was taught by Ibn Taymiyya, Al-Mizzi, Ibn Al Firkah,‘Isa bin Al-Mutim, Ahmed bin Abi-Talib, Ibn Al-Hajjar, Baha Ad-Din Al-Qasim bin Muzaffar bin ‘Asakir, Ibn Ash-Shirazi, Ishaq bin Yahya Al-Ammuddi, Zahriyyah Shaykh, and Muhammad bin Zarrad.

Upon completion of his studies he obtained his first official appointment in 1341, when he joined an inquisitorial commission formed to determine certain questions of heresy. Thereafter he received various semi-official appointments, culminating in June/July 1366 with a professorial position at the Great Mosque of Damascus.

Ibn Kathir wrote a famous commentary on the Qur'an named Tafsir al-Qur'an al-'Adhim which linked certain Hadith, or sayings of Muhammad, and sayings of the sahaba to verses of the Qur'an, in explanation. Tafsir ibn Kathir is famous all over the Muslim world, and among Muslims in the Western world is one of the most widely used explanations of the Qu'ran today.