Transliteration:( Wa maaa anzalnaa 'alaikal Kitaaba illaa litubaiyina lahumul lazikh talafoo feehi wa hudanw wa rahmatal liqawminy yu'minoon )
"And We have not sent down the Book to you except that you may clarify to them what [132] they differed in [133], and as guidance and mercy for a people who believe [134]."
From this emerge two key issues:
The Holy Qur’an was not revealed merely for recitation. It is also a cure, a guidance, the Divine Law, and a manifestation of Allah’s mercy. Therefore, it benefits the believer in establishing just rule and in reforming corrupt governance.
The Qur’an is guidance and mercy only for those who accept it through the medium of the Holy Prophet ﷺ. That is why it is said:
“You may clarify to them.”
Abandoning the Sunnah and the Prophetic interpretation of the Qur’an leads to misguidance, as Allah says:
"Allah sends astray many by it, and guides many." (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:26)
This means that people differed in both worldly and religious matters, and the Qur’an was revealed to resolve these disputes.
From this we learn that we should make the Holy Qur’an the final judge in all our differences—but this should be done through the medium of the Holy Prophet ﷺ and with the assistance of the religious scholars (Ulama).
From this we learn that the special mercy of the Holy Prophet ﷺ is directed particularly toward the believers, as Allah says:
"And to the believers he is most kind and merciful." (Surah At-Tawbah 9:128)
And in a general sense, he is a mercy to all creation, as Allah declares:
"And We sent you not but as a mercy for all worlds." (Surah Al-Anbiya 21:107)
This general mercy includes: withholding Divine punishment, sustenance, children, and worldly blessings that reach everyone, believer and disbeliever alike, due to the presence and status of the Holy Prophet ﷺ.
The special mercy includes: faith, piety, sainthood, and nearness to Allah, which are granted only to believers through the blessings of the Holy Prophet ﷺ. The disbelievers are deprived of these spiritual gifts.
The tafsir of Surah An-Nahl verse 64 by Ibn Kathir is unavailable here.
Please refer to Surah Nahl ayat 63 which provides the complete commentary from verse 63 through 65.
(16:64) We have sent down the Book that you may explain to them the truth concerning what they are disputing and that the Book may serve as a guidance and mercy for those who believe in it.[53]
53. That is, this Book has afforded them an excellent opportunity to resolve their differences which have been caused by the superstitious creeds of their forefathers, and which have divided, them into warring factions. They can then unite on the permanent basis of the truth presented by the Quran, but those foolish people preferring their former condition even after the coming of this blessing, shall meet with disgrace and torment. On the other hand, only those, who believe in this Book, will find the right way and blessed with mercy and favors from Allah. 65. And Allah sends down from the sky water, then He revives therewith the earth after its death. Indeed, in this is a sure sign for a people who listen.
53a. That is, had you listened to the message of the Prophet (peace be upon him), and observed those signs carefully, you would have cried from the core of your heart. These signs support his message. Year after year you witness these signs. There is the land, all barren before you, without any sign of life, no blade of grass, no bud or flower, and no insect. Then comes rain. All of a sudden, the same land is covered with life. There crop upon numerous kinds of insects of which no vestige had been left. You witness this process of life and death, and death and life, repeated year after year. Yet you doubt this when the Prophet (peace be upon him) tells you that Allah will again bring to life all human beings after their death. This is because you see these signs as animals do, who do not see the wisdom of the Creator underlying this phenomenon; otherwise you would have discovered that these signs support the message of the Prophet (peace be upon him).
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