Quranic exegeses, like other scholarly writings, adhere to specific principles and foundations; however, in most commentaries, the exegete's underlying premises are not explicitly articulated. Extracting, systematically presenting, explaining, and critiquing these interpretive foundations constitute essential scholarly endeavors within the field of exegesis—tasks that have already been accomplished for some commentaries. This study undertakes a critical analysis of the contemporary and educational foundations found in Sa‘īd Ḥawwā’s *al-Asās fī al-Tafsīr*. Conducted using a descriptive-analytical method, the research reveals that *al-Asās fī al-Tafsīr*—like many late and contemporary commentaries—was influenced by the sweeping intellectual, cultural, and political transformations that followed the Renaissance; consequently, some of the author's foundations diverge from those of earlier exegetical works. Furthermore, the premise of the "Quran as a book of life and upbringing"—characterized by the author's unique interpretation and the promotion of ideas such as the revival of the Islamic Caliphate and the unity of Muslim societies—distinguishes this work from others, yet it may have also paved the way for social shifts, including the emergence of violent groups in subsequent decades. The author's premise of the "thematic unity of the Quran," featuring an innovative model, is unique to this work and sets it apart from both earlier and contemporary commentaries. The premise of "addressing the exigencies of the age," however, is shared with most commentaries of the same era. Certain aspects of Sa‘īd Ḥawwā’s interpretive foundations are open to criticism and require revision and refinement.