Explaining the Ranks of Qur'anic Exegesis, Which Are Four

The Shaykh : We say that in interpreting the Book of Allah (Mighty and Majestic), one returns to the Book of Allah itself, then to what the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) interpreted it with, then to what the Companions interpreted it with, especially the scholars among them in exegesis, such as Ibn Abbas and Ibn Mas'ud, and then to what the Tabi'un (the generation after the Companions) said, who were renowned for taking knowledge from the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them). These are four ranks: the first rank is to interpret the speech of Allah with the speech of Allah; the second is to interpret it with what? With the speech of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him); the third is to interpret it with the speech of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them), especially those among them who were renowned for exegesis; and the fourth is what the Tabi'un (the generation after the Companions) interpreted it with, who were renowned for taking knowledge from the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them).