Can the interpretations of the Companions, the Successors, and the scholars of Tafsir be considered the intended meaning of God—the Exalted—from the Quranic verses, or are they close to the intended meaning of God—the Exalted?

If the interpretation is from the words of the Companions and they did not attribute it to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, then it is a clarification of what Allah intended, according to what became apparent to them. The Companions are the closest people to knowing the meaning of Allah's words, especially Ibn Abbas. A group of the Tabi'in (successors) learned from Ibn Abbas. If the interpretation is not found in the Quran or Sunnah, then one refers to the sayings of the Companions, for they are more knowledgeable due to what they witnessed of contextual clues and circumstances, and because of their complete understanding. As for the authoritativeness of a Companion's saying in interpretation, there is a detailed explanation: what has the ruling of being marfu' (attributed directly to the Prophet) (such as reasons for revelation, matters of the unseen, and stories within verses) is accepted. What has the ruling of being Isra'iliyyat (from Israelite traditions) is accepted if it conforms to the Quran and Sunnah, rejected if it contradicts them, and held in abeyance if there is nothing to support or contradict it. As for the ijtihad (independent reasoning) of the Companions, if they reached a consensus on one opinion, it is an evidence. If they differed, then the saying of one of them is not an evidence against another. The sayings of the Tabi'in and those who came after them are accepted if they reached a consensus on them. If they differed, then the saying of some of them is not an evidence against others.