Our servants. And indeed, you guide to a straight path—the path of Allah, to whom belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on earth. Truly, all matters return to Allah.”

I have written this brief introduction as Allah Most High has enabled me, setting down what my heart dictated. Allah is the Guide to the path of right guidance.

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It must be understood that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, explained the meanings of the Quran to his Companions just as he taught them its wording. Allah Most High’s words,

“So that you may explain to people what has been sent down to them,”

embrace both.

Abū ‘Abd al-Rahmān al-Sulamī said: “Those who taught us the Quran, such as ‘Uthmān ibn ‘Affān, ‘Abd Allāh ibn Mas‘ūd, and others, told us that when they learned ten verses from the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, they would not go beyond them until they had learned the knowledge and practice they contained. They said, ‘Thus we learned the Quran, knowledge, and practice together.’”

For this reason, they would spend a considerable time memorizing a surah. Anas said: “When a man had read al-Baqarah and Āl ‘Imrān, he rose in our esteem.” Ibn ‘Umar spent several years memorizing al-Baqarah—eight years, it is said—as Mālik related.

This was because Allah Most High said:

“This is a blessed Book which We have sent down to you so that they may reflect upon