Ibn ʿAṭiyya said:

“Among those who have authored works on this subject are ʿAbd al-Razzāq, al-Mufaḍḍal, ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭalḥah, al-Bukhārī, and others. Later Muḥammad ibn Jarīr—may Allah have mercy on him—collected the scattered pieces of tafsīr, drew what was remote within reach, and was exhaustive in recording the chains of transmission. Among the outstanding scholars of the later period are Abū Isḥāq al-Zajjāj and Abū ʿAlī al-Fārisī. As for Abū Bakr al-Naqqāsh and Abū Jaʿfar al-Naḥḥās, many points have been corrected for them. Following their method was Makkī ibn Abī Ṭālib—may Allah be pleased with him. Abū al-ʿAbbās al-Mahdawī was a meticulous author. All of them strove and are, Allah willing, rewarded; may Allah have mercy on them and brighten their faces.”

Chapter: Clarifying the Qur’an by means of the Sunnah and what has been reported concerning this

Allah the Exalted says: “We have sent down to you the Reminder so that you may explain to people what has been revealed for them” (Q 16:44).

He also says: “Let those who oppose his command beware, lest a trial befall them or a painful punishment afflict them” (Q 24:63).

And He says: “Indeed, you guide to a straight path” (Q 42:52).

In many verses He has made obedience to the Prophet obligatory and has coupled it with obedience to Himself, Mighty and Majestic. He, exalted, says: “Whatever the Messenger gives you, take it; and whatever he forbids you, abstain” (Q 59:7).

Ibn ʿAbd al-Barr relates in his Book of Knowledge that ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn Zayd once saw a pilgrim in the state of iḥrām still wearing his ordinary clothes and therefore forbade him. The man retorted, “Bring me a verse from the Book of Allah that strips me of my clothes.” He recited to him, “Whatever the Messenger gives you, take it; and whatever he forbids you, abstain.”

Hishām ibn Ḥujayr reported: Ṭāwūs used to pray two rakʿahs after ʿAṣr. Ibn ʿAbbās said to him, “Leave them.” He replied, “He only forbade them lest they become an established Sunnah.” Ibn ʿAbbās responded, “The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, forbade prayer after ʿAṣr. I do not know whether you will be punished for them or rewarded, for Allah the Exalted says: ‘It is not for a believing man or woman, when Allah and His Messenger have decided a matter, to have any choice in their affair’ (Q 33:36).”

Abū Dāwūd narrated from al-Miqdām ibn Maʿdikarib that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “Lo! I have been given the Book and something like it along with it. Soon there will come a well-fed man reclining on his couch who will say, ‘Hold fast to this Qur’an; whatever you find in it declared lawful, deem lawful, and whatever you find in it declared unlawful, deem unlawful.’”