وَٱلْكِتَـٰبِ ٱلْمُبِينِ 2
Translations
By the clear Book,
Transliteration
Wa-al-kitabi al-mubin
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah is an oath sworn by Allah upon the Clear Book (al-Quran), which refers to the Qur'an itself as a manifest and evident revelation. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, Allah swears by the clarity and lucidity of the Qur'an to emphasize the certainty of the message that follows—that the idolaters will indeed face divine punishment for their disbelief. The "clarity" of the Book underscores that the Qur'an's guidance is unambiguous and accessible to all who seek understanding.
Revelation Context
This ayah opens Surah Az-Zukhruf, a Meccan chapter revealed during the early Islamic period when the polytheists of Mecca were persistently rejecting the message. The oath formula here serves to emphasize the authenticity and undeniability of the Qur'an's message to those who were stubbornly refusing guidance.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'The best of you are those who learn the Qur'an and teach it' (Sahih Bukhari 5027). Additionally, 'Whoever reads a letter from the Book of Allah, he will be credited with a good deed' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 2910).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that the Qur'an's guidance is clear and self-evident; if we remain confused or misguided, it is due to our own turning away rather than any obscurity in the message. We should approach the Qur'an with sincerity and an open heart, recognizing it as Allah's unmistakable guidance for humanity.
Related Ayahs
فَٱصْفَحْ عَنْهُمْ وَقُلْ سَلَـٰمٌ ۚ فَسَوْفَ يَعْلَمُونَ
So turn aside from them and say, "Peace." But they are going to know.
فَٱخْتَلَفَ ٱلْأَحْزَابُ مِنۢ بَيْنِهِمْ ۖ فَوَيْلٌ لِّلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا۟ مِنْ عَذَابِ يَوْمٍ أَلِيمٍ
But the denominations from among them differed [and separated], so woe to those who have wronged from the punishment of a painful Day.
فَلَمَّآ ءَاسَفُونَا ٱنتَقَمْنَا مِنْهُمْ فَأَغْرَقْنَـٰهُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ
And when they angered Us, We took retribution from them and drowned them all.
وَإِذَا بُشِّرَ أَحَدُهُم بِمَا ضَرَبَ لِلرَّحْمَـٰنِ مَثَلًا ظَلَّ وَجْهُهُۥ مُسْوَدًّا وَهُوَ كَظِيمٌ
And when one of them is given good tidings of that which he attributes to the Most Merciful in comparison [i.e., a daughter], his face becomes dark, and he suppresses grief.