بِٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتِ وَٱلزُّبُرِ ۗ وَأَنزَلْنَآ إِلَيْكَ ٱلذِّكْرَ لِتُبَيِّنَ لِلنَّاسِ مَا نُزِّلَ إِلَيْهِمْ وَلَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ 44
Translations
[We sent them] with clear proofs and written ordinances. And We revealed to you the message [i.e., the Qur’ān] that you may make clear to the people what was sent down to them and that they might give thought.
Transliteration
Bil-bayyinati wa-z-zuburi wa-anzalna ilayka adh-dhikra litubayyana lin-nasi ma nuzzila ilayhim wa-la'allahum yatafakkarun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah emphasizes that the Messengers were sent with clear proofs (bayyinaat) and scriptures (zubur), and that the Qur'an was revealed to Prophet Muhammad specifically so he could clarify to mankind what was sent down to them. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this establishes the Prophet's role as an explainer (mubayyinn) of divine revelation, making the Qur'an's teachings accessible and comprehensible, with the ultimate purpose being that people reflect upon and understand the divine message.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan surah An-Nahl, which emphasizes God's signs and blessings. The verse is part of a broader discussion about the prophets and God's guidance, affirming that the Prophet Muhammad's mission includes not only receiving revelation but actively explaining it to his community for their contemplation and understanding.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari (4701): The Prophet said, 'The best amongst you are those who learn the Qur'an and teach it.' This reflects the ayah's emphasis on clarifying and teaching revelation. Additionally, Sunan At-Tirmidhi (2906) records that the Prophet said his role includes explaining what Allah has revealed.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that Islam is designed to be understood and reflected upon, not merely recited. The Prophet's example teaches us that knowledge of religion should be shared clearly and accessibly, encouraging critical thinking and personal contemplation of divine truths.
Related Ayahs
وَلِلَّهِ غَيْبُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ وَمَآ أَمْرُ ٱلسَّاعَةِ إِلَّا كَلَمْحِ ٱلْبَصَرِ أَوْ هُوَ أَقْرَبُ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
And to Allāh belongs the unseen [aspects] of the heavens and the earth. And the command for the Hour is not but as a glance of the eye or even nearer. Indeed, Allāh is over all things competent.
فَإِن تَوَلَّوْا۟ فَإِنَّمَا عَلَيْكَ ٱلْبَلَـٰغُ ٱلْمُبِينُ
But if they turn away, [O Muḥammad] - then only upon you is [responsibility for] clear notification.
يَتَوَٰرَىٰ مِنَ ٱلْقَوْمِ مِن سُوٓءِ مَا بُشِّرَ بِهِۦٓ ۚ أَيُمْسِكُهُۥ عَلَىٰ هُونٍ أَمْ يَدُسُّهُۥ فِى ٱلتُّرَابِ ۗ أَلَا سَآءَ مَا يَحْكُمُونَ
He hides himself from the people because of the ill of which he has been informed. Should he keep it in humiliation or bury it in the ground? Unquestionably, evil is what they decide.
إِنَّمَا قَوْلُنَا لِشَىْءٍ إِذَآ أَرَدْنَـٰهُ أَن نَّقُولَ لَهُۥ كُن فَيَكُونُ
Indeed, Our word to a thing when We intend it is but that We say to it, "Be," and it is.