The good rules related to interpreting the Qur'an

Authorship: Sheikh Abdulrahman Ibn Sa'di Verification: Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Daham Review of verification: Dr. Suleiman Al-‘Uyoon In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful [Introduction] Praise be to Allah, we praise Him, seek His help, guidance, and forgiveness, and we repent to Him. We seek refuge in Allah from the evil of ourselves and from our bad deeds. Whomsoever Allah guides, there is none to misguide him, and whomsoever He misguides, there is none to guide him. I bear witness that there is no deity but Allah alone, with no partner, and that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger. Peace and blessings be upon him, his family, and his companions, and many salutations. To proceed: These are fundamental principles and rules in the interpretation of the Noble Qur'an, of great importance, immensely beneficial, helping the reader and the contemplator to understand the words of Allah, to be guided by them, and their news is more noble than to describe. For they open for the servant paths of interpretation and a methodology for understanding from Allah: what suffices many interpretations that lack these beneficial researches. I ask Allah and pray that He completes what we intend to present, and opens for us from His treasures of generosity and grace what will be a cause for reaching beneficial knowledge and complete guidance. And know that the science of Tafsir (interpretation) is the most exalted of sciences absolutely, the best, the most obligatory, and the most beloved to Allah, because Allah commanded to ponder His Book, reflect on its meanings, and be guided by its verses. He praised those who do so and placed them in the highest ranks, promising them the noblest of gifts. If a servant spends the jewels of his life in this field, it would not be much compared to what is better of the pursuits, greatest of goals, and the fundamental principles of all, the foundational rule of happiness in both worlds, and the rectification of religion, worldly affairs, and the Hereafter. Through it, the servant’s life is realized with guidance, goodness, and mercy, and Allah prepares for him the best life and the everlasting righteous deeds. Now, let us begin by mentioning the principles and regulations in brief, which suffice to achieve the purpose. Because when the door is opened for the servant, and the causes are laid out through understanding the principle, and he trains himself with several examples that clarify and illustrate its way and methodology, then there is no need for excessive elaboration or many details. We ask Allah to support us with His help, kindness, and success, and to make us guides and guided, by His grace, generosity, and benevolence.