قُرْءَانًا عَرَبِيًّا غَيْرَ ذِى عِوَجٍ لَّعَلَّهُمْ يَتَّقُونَ 28
Translations
[It is] an Arabic Qur’ān, without any deviance that they might become righteous.
Transliteration
Qur'anan AArabiyyan ghayra dhee AAiwajin laAAallahum yattaqoon
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah describes the Qur'an as an Arabic revelation free from any crookedness, inconsistency, or deviation from truth, sent so that people might attain taqwa (God-consciousness and piety). Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that the Qur'an's linguistic clarity and logical coherence in its Arabic form serve as a mercy and guidance, while Al-Qurtubi notes that 'ʿiwaj (crookedness) refers to both linguistic defects and contradictions in meaning, neither of which exist in the Qur'an.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Az-Zumar (Meccan surah) as part of Allah's description of the Qur'an's perfection and its purpose. The broader context addresses the Qur'an's role as a clear warning and guidance to humanity, emphasizing its divine origin and the inevitability of its message.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The best of you are those who learn the Qur'an and teach it' (Sahih Bukhari 5027). Additionally, 'Whoever recites the Qur'an and acts upon it, his parents will be crowned with a light on the Day of Resurrection' (Sunan Ibn Majah 3781), reflecting the transformative purpose of the Qur'an mentioned in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
The Qur'an's perfect clarity and internal consistency are not merely linguistic achievements but divine signs meant to inspire fear of Allah and righteous conduct; believers should approach the Qur'an with the intention of developing taqwa and allowing its straight guidance to transform their character and actions.
Related Ayahs
وَٱلَّذِينَ ٱجْتَنَبُوا۟ ٱلطَّـٰغُوتَ أَن يَعْبُدُوهَا وَأَنَابُوٓا۟ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ لَهُمُ ٱلْبُشْرَىٰ ۚ فَبَشِّرْ عِبَادِ
But those who have avoided ṭāghūt, lest they worship it, and turned back to Allāh - for them are good tidings. So give good tidings to My servants
وَيَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ تَرَى ٱلَّذِينَ كَذَبُوا۟ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ وُجُوهُهُم مُّسْوَدَّةٌ ۚ أَلَيْسَ فِى جَهَنَّمَ مَثْوًى لِّلْمُتَكَبِّرِينَ
And on the Day of Resurrection you will see those who lied about Allāh [with] their faces blackened. Is there not in Hell a residence for the arrogant?
أَوْ تَقُولَ لَوْ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ هَدَىٰنِى لَكُنتُ مِنَ ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ
Or [lest] it say, "If only Allāh had guided me, I would have been among the righteous."
وَسِيقَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰ جَهَنَّمَ زُمَرًا ۖ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا جَآءُوهَا فُتِحَتْ أَبْوَٰبُهَا وَقَالَ لَهُمْ خَزَنَتُهَآ أَلَمْ يَأْتِكُمْ رُسُلٌ مِّنكُمْ يَتْلُونَ عَلَيْكُمْ ءَايَـٰتِ رَبِّكُمْ وَيُنذِرُونَكُمْ لِقَآءَ يَوْمِكُمْ هَـٰذَا ۚ قَالُوا۟ بَلَىٰ وَلَـٰكِنْ حَقَّتْ كَلِمَةُ ٱلْعَذَابِ عَلَى ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ
And those who disbelieved will be driven to Hell in groups until, when they reach it, its gates are opened and its keepers will say, "Did there not come to you messengers from yourselves, reciting to you the verses of your Lord and warning you of the meeting of this Day of yours?" They will say, "Yes, but the word [i.e., decree] of punishment has come into effect upon the disbelievers."