How is the hadith of Jundub ibn Abdullah understood: "We were young lads, strong with the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, so we learned faith before the Qur'an, then we learned the Qur'an and increased in faith thereby, and you today learn the Qur'an before faith"? And what is the way to learn faith? And does the Companion's statement "we learned faith before the Qur'an" not contradict the Qur'an being the nurturer of faith?

The Companions learned faith before the Qur'an. This means they were practically nurtured by the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, on the principles and meanings of faith. They received his Sunnah, his teachings, and his discipline in the manners of the religion, thus acquiring a general understanding of the meanings of the Qur'an before learning its words. This provides detailed knowledge and increases faith. The Companions learned both the words and the meanings of the Qur'an from the Messenger. He taught them faith, which encompassed the meanings revealed in the Qur'an, what was commanded, what was reported, and what was received with obedience and affirmation. Indeed, the foundations of faith are scattered throughout the Surahs of the Mufassal.

Therefore, faith before the Qur'an is attained by a believer nurturing themselves with determination and strength upon the creeds and laws brought by the Qur'an. When they begin to memorize its verses, they feel that they are being addressed by them, leading them to ponder and reflect deeply on what they memorize. They fear that it might become a proof against them, so they hasten to comply with it.