وَكَذَٰلِكَ نُفَصِّلُ ٱلْـَٔايَـٰتِ وَلِتَسْتَبِينَ سَبِيلُ ٱلْمُجْرِمِينَ 55
Translations
And thus do We detail the verses, and [thus] the way of the criminals will become evident.
Transliteration
Wa-kadhalika nufassilu al-ayati wa-litastabina sabilu al-mujrimeen
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah explains that just as He has detailed His signs and verses clearly in the Quran, this detailed exposition serves to make the path of the criminals (those who reject faith and commit sin) become evident and distinguishable from the path of the righteous. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, the purpose of this clarity is both to guide the believers and to expose the falsehood and deviation of those who persist in transgression, leaving no excuse for rejection of the truth.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Al-An'am, a Meccan surah that emphasizes Allah's oneness, the clarity of His signs, and the reality of the Day of Judgment. It follows verses discussing the detailed exposition of Quranic verses and serves as a reminder that the Quran's clarity benefits both believers seeking guidance and exposes the stubbornness of those who reject it.
Related Hadiths
The hadith of Ibn Mas'ud (Sahih Bukhari 5057): 'The best speech is the Book of Allah,' relates to the Quran's role in clarifying truth and falsehood. Additionally, the hadith in Sahih Muslim regarding the clarity of halal and haram reflects this ayah's theme of distinguishing between right and wrong paths.
Themes
Key Lesson
The detailed clarity of Allah's guidance in the Quran leaves no one with an excuse for their choices; believers who seek truth will find it, while those who reject it do so with full knowledge. This teaches us that guidance is always available, and our responsibility is to earnestly seek it and follow the right path.
Related Ayahs
وَلَوْ تَرَىٰٓ إِذْ وُقِفُوا۟ عَلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ ۚ قَالَ أَلَيْسَ هَـٰذَا بِٱلْحَقِّ ۚ قَالُوا۟ بَلَىٰ وَرَبِّنَا ۚ قَالَ فَذُوقُوا۟ ٱلْعَذَابَ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَكْفُرُونَ
If you could but see when they will be made to stand before their Lord. He will say, "Is this not the truth?" They will say, "Yes, by our Lord." He will [then] say, "So taste the punishment for what you used to deny."
وَيَوْمَ يَحْشُرُهُمْ جَمِيعًا يَـٰمَعْشَرَ ٱلْجِنِّ قَدِ ٱسْتَكْثَرْتُم مِّنَ ٱلْإِنسِ ۖ وَقَالَ أَوْلِيَآؤُهُم مِّنَ ٱلْإِنسِ رَبَّنَا ٱسْتَمْتَعَ بَعْضُنَا بِبَعْضٍ وَبَلَغْنَآ أَجَلَنَا ٱلَّذِىٓ أَجَّلْتَ لَنَا ۚ قَالَ ٱلنَّارُ مَثْوَىٰكُمْ خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَآ إِلَّا مَا شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ ۗ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ حَكِيمٌ عَلِيمٌ
And [mention, O Muḥammad], the Day when He will gather them together [and say], "O company of jinn, you have [misled] many of mankind." And their allies among mankind will say, "Our Lord, some of us made use of others, and we have [now] reached our term which You appointed for us." He will say, "The Fire is your residence, wherein you will abide eternally, except for what Allāh wills. Indeed, your Lord is Wise and Knowing."
وَٱلَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا صُمٌّ وَبُكْمٌ فِى ٱلظُّلُمَـٰتِ ۗ مَن يَشَإِ ٱللَّهُ يُضْلِلْهُ وَمَن يَشَأْ يَجْعَلْهُ عَلَىٰ صِرَٰطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ
But those who deny Our verses are deaf and dumb within darknesses. Whomever Allāh wills - He sends astray; and whomever He wills - He puts him on a straight path.
قُلْ سِيرُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ثُمَّ ٱنظُرُوا۟ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَـٰقِبَةُ ٱلْمُكَذِّبِينَ
Say, "Travel through the land; then observe how was the end of the deniers."