ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنزَلَ عَلَىٰ عَبْدِهِ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ وَلَمْ يَجْعَل لَّهُۥ عِوَجَا ۜ 1
Translations
[All] praise is [due] to Allāh, who has sent down upon His Servant [Muḥammad (ﷺ)] the Book and has not made therein any deviance.
Transliteration
Al-hamdu lillahi alladhi anzala ala abdih al-kitaba walam yajal lahu iwaja
Tafsir (Explanation)
This opening ayah praises Allah for revealing the Quran to His servant Muhammad (peace be upon him) in a straight and perfect manner without any crookedness or deviation. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that 'iwaja' (crookedness) refers to the absence of contradictions, errors, or deviations from truth in the Quranic text, highlighting the divine perfection and preservation of the scripture. Al-Qurtubi notes that this declaration of praise establishes the Quran's unique status as a flawless revelation from the All-Knowing, All-Wise Creator.
Revelation Context
Surah Al-Kahf was revealed in the middle Meccan period to strengthen the believers during early persecution and to address the polytheists' challenges to the Prophet's message. This opening ayah serves as an affirmation of the Quran's divine origin and perfection, countering the accusations of those who claimed it was fabricated or contained human errors.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'Verily this Quran is a rope of Allah, it is light and a healing' (Musnad Ahmad). Additionally, 'The best among you are those who learn the Quran and teach it' (Sahih Bukhari 5027).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us to recognize the Quran as a divinely preserved, flawless guide from Allah and to approach it with reverence and gratitude. It invites believers to find confidence in following the Quranic teachings as they are free from contradiction and deviation, making it a reliable source of spiritual and moral guidance for all times.