The first chapter

On the categories of commentators and the methodologies of their exegesis

It should be known that the commentators are divided into several categories:

[Exegesis of the Hadith scholars:]

Among them is a group that intended to narrate the reports related to the noble verses,

whether that was a marfoo' Hadith,

or maqtoo', or an Isra'ili report;

and this is the way of the Hadith scholars.

Exegesis of the theologians:

A group addressed the verses of attributes and the names of Allah - the Exalted - with figurative interpretation,

so whatever of them did not agree - in its apparent meaning - with the doctrine of transcendence,

they diverted it from its apparent meaning, and they refuted the opponents' attachment to some verses,

and they dismantled their holding to them, and this is the methodology of the theologians.

[Exegesis of the jurists and legal theorists:]

And a group directed its attention towards deriving jurisprudential legal rulings,

and favoring some deduced opinions over others,

and answering the opponents' holding to the other evidences,

and this is the way of the jurists and legal theorists.