I mentioned in one of the classes about books students should begin purchasing. I'll list a few here and when we have an indication of the best prints I'll edit the post later with those additional details, insha Allah:

1. Tafsir Ibn Katheer. [I'll add best print details, when I have them]

2. Tafsir Abu Sa'ood. I have the 6 volume Dar al-kutub al-ilmiyya edition which I would recommend against. Any other print would be better. My one is fine for me, since I can detect typos fairly easily, but for students I would recommend another edition.

3. Tafsir al-Baydhawi. For this I have the 2 volume DKI edition which is quite good. Nothing wrong with it. 2 nice looking volumes. I haven't detected any typos so far.

4. Tafsir an-Nasafi in 3 volumes. The full name for this is Madaarik at-Tanzeel. Mawlana Thanwi draws from it. I have the Dar Ibn Katheer edition which is quite good.

5. Safwat at-Tafaasir by Saabooni. I'm not a huge fan of this. Seems too simplistic. It's only 3 volumes.. and his main tafseer generally draws from Ibn Katheer. I would say, acquire it. Should be good for beginners.

6. al-Kasshaaf by Zamakhshari. I have it in 2 volumes. It's 4 parts bound in two volumes. I asked Mufti Husain and he says there isn't any top print for al-Kasshaaf. You can get any one basically.

7. al-Khaazin with Ma'aalim at-Tanzeel combined together. Mawlana Thanwi draws from both of these also.

8. Ruh al-Ma'aani. I have the old (1980s) DKI edition which isn't too bad. I'm not sure how their newer prints of it are.

That's it.. there are other very good larger works many of which I also have, but I don't think students need to worry about them at this point. If you want to pick 3 from the above, get Abu Sa'ood, Ruh al-Ma'aani and maybe Safwat at-Tafaasir (since it's good for beginners) as the third.