Day 5: Understanding the Qur’an

The Prophet (pbuh) said: "If Allah wants to do a favor to somebody, He bestows on him, the gift of understanding the Qur'an and Sunna….” (Bukhari)

The Qur'an is the revealed scripture from our God to us through our Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). It was revealed in Arabic. “A revelation from the Beneficent, the Merciful. A Book whereof the verses are explained in detail; a Qur'an in Arabic for people who understand.” (Qur’an 41 verses 2-3) Translation into other languages should be regarded as "translations of the meaning of the Qur’an" not the translation of the Qur'an. This is because any translation is the translator’s understanding of the meaning of the Arabic text.


Therefore, it is natural that any translator should have a good understanding of Arabic language. It is important to caution that the Qur’anic Arabic shows a peculiar usages of Arabic (and has to be understood within the Qur’anic context) as this is different from the ordinary (street) usage.


Before undertaking the reading or studying of the Qur’an, it is important to seek refuge from Shaytan because he seeks to corrupt our understanding. “And when thou recitest the Quran, seek refuge in Allah from Satan the outcast.” (Qur’an 16 verse 98).


The Qur’an explains itself. One verse explains another verse. It will be an error to take verses in isolation. Related subject matter verses complement one another; restricts one another, follows on from one another. In fact, the Qur'an is the best interpreter of itself, it does not contradicted itself rather complement. “(It is) a Qur'an in Arabic without any crookedness (therein)” (Qur’an 39 verse 28)


Also to avoid misunderstanding, read Qur’an in passages or chapters and not just individual verse in isolation. For example a verse reads: “So woe to the worshippers.” (Qur’an 107 verses 4) Any worshipper could feel cursed and disillusioned, but the verse is made clearer if the entire passage is read as: “So woe to the worshippers, who are neglectful of their Prayers, those who (want but) to be seen (of men), but refuse (to supply) (even) neighborly needs.” (Qur’an 107 verses 4-7)


Indeed no human can understand the interpretation of the Qur’an better than the one who was the vehicle of revelation. It is therefore important to explore what understanding the Prophet (pbuh) gave the passages. His explanation should always be our first recourse. It also follows that the companions of the Prophet would have some understanding of the revelation and their opinions should also matter with respect to the interpretation of the Qur’an. Of course, they took tutelage from the Rasul directly and they have been recommended to us as shining examples. Their statements are called Athars, whereas the Prophet’s statements are called Hadith.


Some verses in the Qur’an are clear while some are allegorical. Many people have attempted to explain what Allah and His Messenger have not explained. For example the consonants at the beginning of some verses. There are details that are beyond human comprehension or even above human language or explanations. Indeed there are allegorical verses as exemplified by the story of Khidri & Musa (Qur’an 18)


It is also important to know the causes of revelation. This will be the immediate guide to the meaning, implication and application of the passage.



“Verily We have revealed the Book to thee in Truth for (instructing) mankind. He then that receives guidance benefits his own soul: but he that strays injures his own soul. Nor art thou set over them to dispose of their affairs.”(Qur’an 39 verse 41)