The Author’s Introduction

In the name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful.

All praise is due to Allah, who sent down the Criterion to His servant, distinguishing the lawful from the unlawful, the blessed from the wretched, and truth from falsehood.

Through His mercy, He made it guidance for all people generally and for the God-fearing particularly, leading them from the misguidance of disbelief, sin, and ignorance into the light of faith, piety, and knowledge. He sent it down as healing for hearts from the diseases of doubts and desires; through it, certainty and knowledge concerning the loftiest matters are attained. It is also healing for bodies from their diseases, ailments, pains, and sicknesses (1).

He declared that there is no uncertainty or doubt in it whatsoever, because its reports, commands, and prohibitions contain sublime truth. He sent it down blessed, containing abundant good, profuse knowledge, marvelous insights, and lofty teachings. Every blessing and happiness attained in this world or the Hereafter comes through being guided by it and following it.

He declared that it confirms the previous scriptures and stands as an authority over them. Whatever it attests to is true, and whatever it rejects is to be rejected, for it encompasses them and adds to them. Allah Most High said of it: “Through it Allah guides those who pursue His pleasure to the ways of peace.” It therefore guides to the Abode of Peace, makes clear the road leading to it, and urges people toward it, while exposing the road leading to the Abode of Pain and warning against it.

Allah Most High also said of it: “This is a Book whose verses have been perfected and then explained in detail, from One who is All-Wise, All-Aware.” He made its verses perfectly clear and fashioned them with the utmost precision. He set them out in detail by making clear (2) the difference between truth and falsehood and between right guidance and misguidance, in a manner that dispels all confusion. This is because it comes from One who is All-Wise, All-Aware: He reports nothing but what is truthful, true, and certain; commands nothing but justice, excellence, and righteousness; and prohibits nothing but that which causes religious or worldly harm.

Allah Most High swore by the Quran and described it as “glorious.” Glory denotes the abundance and greatness of its qualities, which reflects the abundance and greatness of the Quran’s meanings. He also described it as “full of reminder,” meaning that through it divine knowledge, noble character, and righteous deeds are brought to mind, and those who fear Allah are admonished by it.

Allah Most High said: “Indeed, We have sent it down as an Arabic Quran so that you may understand.” He sent it down (3) in this language so that we might understand and comprehend it. He commanded us to contemplate it, reflect upon it, and derive its teachings. This is only because contemplating it is the key to every good and the means of attaining knowledge and profound insights. All praise, gratitude, and acclaim belong to Allah, who made His Book guidance, healing, mercy, light, insight, a reminder, and a blessing—and guidance and glad tidings for Muslims.

Once this is understood, it becomes clear how greatly every morally accountable person needs to know its meanings and be guided by them.

It is therefore fitting that a servant exert every effort and do all within his capacity to learn and understand it through the most direct means of attaining that goal.

The imams—may Allah have mercy on them—have produced many commentaries on Allah’s Book. Some are lengthy and, in most of their discussions, stray beyond the intended purpose; others fall short, limiting themselves to explaining certain lexical expressions [without regard to the intended meaning] (4).