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
وَإِذَا ذُكِرَ ٱللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ ٱشْمَأَزَّتْ قُلُوبُ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ ۖ وَإِذَا ذُكِرَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن دُونِهِۦٓ إِذَا هُمْ يَسْتَبْشِرُونَ
And when Allāh is mentioned alone, the hearts of those who do not believe in the Hereafter shrink with aversion, but when those [worshipped] other than Him are mentioned, immediately they rejoice.
وَسِيقَ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّقَوْا۟ رَبَّهُمْ إِلَى ٱلْجَنَّةِ زُمَرًا ۖ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا جَآءُوهَا وَفُتِحَتْ أَبْوَٰبُهَا وَقَالَ لَهُمْ خَزَنَتُهَا سَلَـٰمٌ عَلَيْكُمْ طِبْتُمْ فَٱدْخُلُوهَا خَـٰلِدِينَ
But those who feared their Lord will be driven to Paradise in groups until, when they reach it while its gates have been opened and its keepers say, "Peace be upon you; you have become pure; so enter it to abide eternally therein," [they will enter].
وَأَنِيبُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكُمْ وَأَسْلِمُوا۟ لَهُۥ مِن قَبْلِ أَن يَأْتِيَكُمُ ٱلْعَذَابُ ثُمَّ لَا تُنصَرُونَ
And return [in repentance] to your Lord and submit to Him before the punishment comes upon you; then you will not be helped.
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?