Answer
Wa `alaykum as-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
In this fatwa:
Yes, Ibn Kathir is considered an authentic and highly respected Islamic scholar. His original Arabic Tafseer is a reliable source in Quranic exegesis. However, not all narrations within it are endorsed, as scholars like Ibn Kathir cited multiple viewpoints without always supporting them.
In his response to your question, Sheikh Ahmad Kutty, a senior lecturer and an Islamic scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, states:
Is the Original Tafseer of Ibn Kathir Authentic?
Perhaps this brother may have in mind the abridged translation of Ibn Kathir distributed by Darus-Salam.
That is not to be confused with the original Tafseer of Ibn Kathir which is in Arabic; it is an authentic work of Tafseer.
Why Some Reports in Tafseer Ibn Kathir Are Not Reliable
However, not everything included in it can be taken as authentic; for as was the custom of the authors such as Ibn Kathir and Ibn Jarir, etc. they cite all kinds of reports in order to cite the various viewpoints. The fact that they cite those reports in no way means that they endorse those views. Often times they express their preferred views clearly.
What About Abridged Translations of Ibn Kathir?
The abridged translations, however, may contain extraneous materials inserted by the translators. Perhaps your friend may be referring to them. Otherwise, no Muslim would ever dare to call Ibn Kathir a disbeliever.
How can we do so when we know that he was one of the greatest scholars of Islam revered by the Muslims throughout centuries?
I would urge you not to acquire knowledge of Islam from hearsay or those who are not properly qualified to transmit it.
For more about the Quran, please refer to these fatwas:
- Can I Enter Bathroom with Quran on My Phone?
- Does Reading Quran on Phone Count?
- Is Touching Quran Without Wudu Permissible?
- Can I Listen to Quran while Studying?
Allah Almighty knows best.