Is it permissible for us to contradict a Companion if an interpretation comes from one of the great Companions and is contradicted by other later scholars?

The questioner : In the name of Allah, if you please, my Shaykh.

The Shaykh: Yes.

The questioner : If an interpretation of the Qur'an comes from one of the great Companions (may Allah be pleased with them), and then in the subsequent centuries another interpretation by some Muslim scholars contradicts the first interpretation, is it permissible for us to prefer the scholar's statement over the Companion's statement?

The Shaykh : Of course, the answer is: it is not permissible. Because the statement of a Companion is an additional piece of knowledge from a Companion, whereas the other is a deficient piece of knowledge from a Companion. So the additional is preferred over the deficient.

The questioner : And if it is said that he is advanced in language and has a broad understanding of language?

The Shaykh : And if it is said, because as for the Companion, there are undoubtedly many factors that give his view precedence, even in this aspect of language. What can be said when he was a companion of the Messenger (peace be upon him) and received the Qur'an fresh from his mouth? If there was any ambiguity, there is no doubt that he (peace be upon him) clarified it for them. Therefore, their interpretation is preferred. This is what led some of the hadith scholars, among the early memorizers, to consider the interpretation of a Companion to be in the status of a marfu' report. If the interpretation is established from a Companion regarding a verse, it is in the status of a marfu' report for these reasons, some of which we have mentioned earlier.