And Gods mercy be on his family, the excellent and the selected ones,
who believe in him [Mul)ammad] and honor him and help him, and follow the
light [the Quran] that was revealed with him [Q. ٧:١٥٧]. They are the truthful ones and the witnesses [to the revelation] with their Lord; they have their re‌ ward and their light [Q. ٥٧:١٩]. God is well pleased with them, and they are well pleased with Him. They are the Party of God. Lo! is it not the Party of God that is prosperous? [Q. ٥٨:٢٢].

And Gods eternal curse be upon their enemies,
who have exchanged guidance for error. Thus, their bargain did not profit them, and neither are they guided [Q. ٢:١٦]. The day when they come forth from their graves in haste, as racing to a goal, with eyes aghast, abasement stupefying them: Such is the Day which they are promised [Q. ٧٠:٤٣-٤٤]; the day when their excuse avails not the evildoers, and theirs is the curse, and theirs the ill abode [Q. ٤٠:٥٢].

Preface to the First Edition

Why Did I Undertake This Exegesis?

Since boyhood, I have been passionately fond of reciting the Exalted Book of God and exploring its ambiguities and sublime meanings. It behooves a true Muslim‌ rather, every thinker-to apply himself to understanding the Quran, clarifying its mysteries, and acquiring its illuminations; for it is the Book that guarantees the establishment of peace, happiness, and order for human beings, and promotes their prosperity and helps them attain it. The Quran is, moreover, a reference book for the lexicographer, a guide for the grammarian, a competent authority for the jurist, a model for the man of letters, a goal of persistent search for the sage, an instructor for the preacher, and aspiration for the moralist. From it are derived the social sciences and public administration; on it are based the religious sciences; from its guidance are discovered the secrets of the universe and the laws of nature. The Quran is the eternal miracle of the everlasting religion. It is the exalted and lofty order for the equally exalted and lofty Sharia (sacred law).
From my boyhood, I was very devoted to the Qurans recitation, seeking to under‌ stand its meaning clearly and to disclose its purpose. This passion became stronger whenever I was able to understand an aspect of its manifold meanings and to fathom one of its numerous mysteries. This passionate love became so compelling that it drove me to read the books of exegesis and explore their depth. It was here that I found what baffled and confused me.
I discovered the insignificance of human reasoning and thinking in comparison with the greatness of God in His Quran. I realized the deficiency of the creature in his finitude and subservience before the perfection of the Creator in His absolute beingness and majesty. I saw the Quran proudly soaring and those other books igno‌ miniously diminishing. I also found that a human being strains to understand the Quran and uncovers one or two aspects; then he records these in a book which he