is the very pursuit of the knowledge that Allah has made obligatory upon His servants. Likewise, whatever meanings of the Book that Allah revealed to him the Messenger—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—clarified, it is incumbent upon people to seek that knowledge from anyone who possesses it, whenever those meanings cannot be obtained merely through familiarity with the language alone.

It is related from Ibn ʿAbbās (may Allah be pleased with them both) that he said:

“The explanation of the Quran is of four kinds: an interpretation the Arabs know from their own speech; an interpretation for which no one is excused for being ignorant; an interpretation known to the scholars; and an interpretation known only to Allah, Blessed and Exalted—whoever claims to know it is a liar.”

Allah the Exalted has said:
“We did not send any messenger except [speaking] in the language of his people so that he might make things clear to them.” [Ibrāhīm, 4]

He did not say, “We sent no messenger except to his people,” but rather that He sent him only in the tongue of his people—those whom he addressed first—so that he might clarify the message to his people. Once he has explained to his people what he intends, the intended purpose is thereby achieved for them and for others, for his people, to whom he first conveyed it, are then able to