Foreword by His Eminence Shaykh Muhammad ibn Sālih al-Uthaymīn
Praise be to Allah, Lord of all worlds. May blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, his Companions, and all who follow them with excellence until the Day of Judgment.
To proceed: The tafsīr of our shaykh, Abd al-Rahmān ibn Nāsir al-Sa‘dī—may Allah Most High have mercy upon him—entitled Taysīr al-Karīm al-Rahmān fī Tafsīr Kalām al-Mannān, is among the finest works of tafsīr, for it possesses many distinguishing features:
One is its clear and accessible style, which can be understood by both those firmly grounded in knowledge and those of lesser learning.
Another is its avoidance of needless digression and prolixity, which only waste the reader’s time and confuse his thoughts.
Another is its avoidance of mentioning scholarly disagreements unless they are substantial and need to be mentioned. This is an important advantage for the reader, as it allows his understanding to become firmly established upon a single view.
Another is its adherence to the methodology of the early generations regarding the verses concerning Allah’s attributes: there is neither distortion nor interpretation contrary to what Allah intended by His words. It is therefore a principal reference for establishing matters of creed.
Another is the precision with which it derives the benefits, rulings, and wisdoms indicated by the verses. This is clearly evident in certain passages, such as the verse of ablution in Sūrat al-Mā’idah, from which he derived fifty rulings, and the account of David and Solomon in Sūrat Sād.
Another is that it is both a work of tafsīr and a guide to noble character, as is evident in his commentary on the words of Allah Most High in Sūrat al-A‘rāf: “Show forgiveness, enjoin what is right, and turn away from the ignorant.”
For this reason, I advise everyone wishing to acquire works of tafsīr to ensure that his library does not lack this valuable commentary.
I ask Allah Most High to make it beneficial to its author and its readers. He is Munificent and Generous. May Allah bestow blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, his Companions, and all who follow them with excellence.
Written by Muhammad al-Sālih al-Uthaymīn
on 15/Ramadan/1416 AH