Methods of Interpreting the Noble Qur'an

Question:
May Allah reward you, Your Eminence, father. The questioner says: In recent times, there have been many books and tapes discussing the miraculous nature of the Qur'an and the agreement of these theories with the clear verses. What is the criterion for this? And what is the obligation of the student of knowledge regarding this?

Answer:
The interpretation of the Qur'an is precise and established, and it has methods mentioned by the imams of tafsir (exegesis) by which it is not interpreted otherwise. The Qur'an is interpreted by the Qur'an, the Qur'an is interpreted by the Sunnah, the Qur'an is interpreted by the interpretation of the Companions, the Qur'an is interpreted by the interpretation of the Tabi'un (the generation after the Companions), and the Qur'an is interpreted by the language in which it was revealed, which is the Arabic language. These are the aspects of interpretation. As for whoever adds to this, or takes a path other than these paths, this is an innovation and has no basis. It is not permissible to interpret the Qur'an by opinion. Al-Hafiz Ibn Kathir mentioned in the beginning of his tafsir the hadith: "Whoever speaks about the Qur'an with his opinion and what he does not know, let him prepare his seat in the Fire," even if he was correct.