We have been sharing these Divine commandments and their explanation off and on in our posts for the benefit of all our readers. Today, we share a very powerful āyāt / verse which summarizes three functions of Al Qur'an which must be understood so as to understand Al Qur'an and what it requires of us.
The Verse (āyāt) 34 of Surah 24. An Nur (The Light)
وَلَقَدْ أَنزَلْنَا إِلَيْكُمْ آيَاتٍۭ مُّبَيِّنَـٰتٍۢ وَمَثَلًۭا مِّنَ ٱلَّذِينَ خَلَوْا۟ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ وَمَوْعِظَةًۭ لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ
"And We have certainly sent down to you distinct verses and examples from those who passed on before you and an admonition for those who fear Allah."
Explanation of the Verse:
This verse is a powerful reminder summarizing three important functions of the Qur’an:
1. "آيَاتٍ مُّبَيِّنَـٰتٍ" — Clear Verses:
The Qur’an contains clear and detailed rulings, signs, and guidance. The laws and principles mentioned earlier in Surah An-Nur—especially about modesty, social conduct, and punishment for slander—are examples of these mubayyināt (clear verses). Allah clarifies what is permissible and what is forbidden to help build a morally upright society.
2. "وَمَثَلًۭا مِّنَ ٱلَّذِينَ خَلَوْا۟ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ" — Examples from Those Who Came Before:
The Qur’an also includes historical examples of previous nations—how they were tested, how some obeyed and were rewarded, while others rejected guidance and were destroyed. These stories are not just for information but as warnings and lessons.
Similar mention is made in following Surahs of Al Qur'an:
- “Indeed in their stories is a lesson for people of reason.” (Yusuf 12:111)
- “Have they not traveled through the land and seen how was the end of those before them?” (Muhammad 47:10)
3. "وَمَوْعِظَةًۭ لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ" — An Admonition for the God-Fearing:
The Qur’an serves as mawʿiẓah (a reminder or admonition) for the muttaqīn—those who have taqwa (God-consciousness). It gives spiritual insight, urging the believers to remain righteous and avoid paths that lead to immorality, hypocrisy, or disbelief.
This is similar to Allah saying in Surah Al-Imran 3:138: “This [Qur’an] is a clear statement to [all] the people and a guidance and instruction for those conscious of Allah.”
Connection with Earlier Verses in Surah An-Nur:
Surah An-Nur includes very specific legal rulings and moral teachings, which are very clearly stated in earlier verses of the Surah:
- Laws about zina (adultery) and its punishment (24:2)
- False accusations and the penalty for slander (24:4-5)
- The incident of the Ifk (false accusation against Aisha RA) (24:11-20)
- Adab (etiquette) of entering homes and lowering the gaze (24:27-31)
- Encouragement of marriage and modest living (24:32-33)
Verse 34 comes as a summary and conclusion to these detailed laws and stories—it reaffirms that all of this is not arbitrary but revealed with wisdom, clarity, and purpose.
Support from the Sunnah:
- The Prophet ﷺ emphasized that: The Qur’an is not just a book of recitation but a source of ḥikmah (wisdom), ʿibrah (lessons), and hudā (guidance).
- He said: “I leave behind me two things, the Qur'an and the Sunnah; if you follow these you will never go astray.” (Muwatta Malik, Hadith 1594)
Reflections and Lessons:
- The Qur'an is holistic: Legal rulings, moral stories, and spiritual reminders all come together for one purpose: to guide those who fear Allah.
- Lessons from the past: We are meant to study history through the lens of revelation, learning from the successes and failures of earlier communities.
- Reminder for the righteous: Only those with taqwa will truly benefit from divine guidance. Others may hear the verses, but they will not internalize them.
May Allah help us interpret these otherwise clear and meaningful verses that open up the vista of understanding Al Qur'an and specially this very important surah of Al Qur'an.
For more selected verses from this Surah, Please refer to our exclusive reference page: Al-Qurʾān: Selected verses from Sūrah 24. An-Nur (The Light)
May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door.
وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ
(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”
That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.
May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.
Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.
Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.
You may like to refer to our exclusive reference page: Selected verses from selected Surahs of Al-Qurʾān for compiled verses from other surahs.
For more Selected Subjects, please refer to our reference page: Selected Verses from Al Qur'an about a Specific Subject (Reference Page) to know more about what Qur'an says about specific subjects and our reference page: Selected Verses from the Qur'an. .
An effort has been made to gather explanation / exegesis of the surahs and selected verses of Al-Qurʾān from authentic sources and then present a least possible condensed explanation of the surah. In that the exegesis of the chapters of the Quran is mainly based on the "Tafhim al-Qur'an - The Meaning of the Qur'an" by one of the most enlightened scholars of the Muslim World Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi.
In addition, other sources which have been explored and views of other scholars have been incorporated while explaining meaning of a verse. Those desirous of detailed explanations and tafsir (exegesis), may refer to these sites. For expansion of meaning and themes / contextual background help from ChatGPT is also taken.
Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references given above. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors. If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.
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1 comments:
Ma Shaa Allah 💖
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