وَٱلْكِتَـٰبِ ٱلْمُبِينِ 2
Translations
By the clear Book,
Transliteration
Wa-al-kitābi al-mubīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah is an oath by Allah swearing by 'the Clear Book,' which classical scholars including Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari identify as the Qur'an itself. The term 'al-mubīn' (the clear/manifest) emphasizes the Qur'an's clarity, unambiguity, and its role as an unmistakable divine guidance that distinguishes truth from falsehood. By swearing an oath to this sacred text, Allah affirms the importance of what follows in the surah regarding the revelation and warnings to mankind.
Revelation Context
Surah Ad-Dukhan is a Meccan surah revealed during the early period of Islam when the Qur'an itself was the primary miracle presented to the disbelievers of Mecca. This ayah opens the surah with divine oaths (44:1-3) that establish the solemnity and importance of the message about the Day of Judgment and warnings to those who reject faith that follows immediately after these introductory verses.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, 'The best among you are those who learn the Qur'an and teach it' (Sahih Bukhari 5027). Additionally, the hadith emphasizing the Qur'an's clarity: 'Indeed, this Qur'an guides to that which is most upright' (Isra 17:9) reflects the theme of al-kitāb al-mubīn.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that the Qur'an is not merely a collection of words but a clear, authoritative guidance from Allah that distinguishes between right and wrong. Believers should approach the Qur'an with reverence, recognizing it as divine proof and a beacon of truth in all aspects of their lives.