(23) “Allah has sent down the best discourse: a Book consistent throughout, repeating its teachings. The skins of those who fear their Lord shiver from it; then their skins and hearts soften at the remembrance of Allah. That is Allah’s guidance, by which He guides whomever He wills. And whoever Allah leaves astray shall have no guide.”
The Most High informs us that the Book He sent down is absolutely “the best discourse.” The finest discourse is the speech of Allah, and the finest revealed book from His speech is this Quran. Since it is the finest, it follows that its words ⦗723⦘ are the most eloquent and clearest of words, and its meanings the most sublime of meanings. It is the best discourse in both wording and meaning, its parts resembling one another in beauty and harmony and being free from contradiction in every respect. Whenever one reflects deeply upon it and considers it carefully, one finds a harmony—even among its most subtle meanings—that astonishes those who contemplate it and makes them certain that it could have proceeded only from One who is All-Wise, All-Knowing. This is what resemblance means in this passage.
As for the words of the Most High, “He is the One who sent down to you the Book. Some of its verses are clear and definitive—they are the foundation of the Book—while others are ambiguous,” these are verses whose meaning is unclear to many people, and that ambiguity can be removed only by referring them back to the clear and definitive verses. Hence He says, “Some of its verses are clear and definitive—they are the foundation of the Book—while others are ambiguous.” There, He ascribes ambiguity to only part of the Quran, whereas here He describes all of it as resembling one another—that is, in its beauty—for He calls it “the best discourse.” It consists of surahs and verses, all of which resemble one another, as we have explained.
“Repeating its teachings” means that its accounts and rulings, promises and warnings, descriptions of the righteous and descriptions of the wicked, and the names and attributes of Allah are repeated throughout it. This is part of its majesty and beauty. The Most High knew that people need its meanings, which purify hearts and perfect character, and that these meanings are to hearts what water is to trees. The longer trees go without being watered, the more they deteriorate and may even perish; but whenever they are watered repeatedly, they flourish and bear many kinds of beneficial fruit. Likewise, the heart constantly needs the meanings of Allah’s words to be repeatedly brought before it. If each meaning appeared before it only once in the entire Quran, it would not have its proper effect or produce the desired result.
For this reason, I have adopted this noble method in this commentary, following the example of the Book it explains. Thus, you will find no passage that merely refers the reader elsewhere. Rather, every passage is explained fully in its own place, without relying on what has already been discussed in similar passages, although some passages are treated more expansively and contain greater benefit than others. The reader of the Quran who reflects upon its meanings should likewise never neglect contemplation at any point, for this will bring him abundant good and immense benefit.
Because the glorious Quran possesses such majesty and greatness, it leaves a profound effect upon the hearts of rightly guided people of understanding. The Most High therefore says, “The skins of those who fear their Lord shiver from it,” because it contains alarming admonitions and warnings. “Then their skins and hearts soften at the remembrance of Allah”—that is, when it speaks of hope and encouragement. At times it encourages them to do good, and at other times it warns them against doing evil.
“That”—the effect of the Quran upon them which Allah has described—“is Allah’s guidance”; that is, guidance from Him to His servants and part of His grace and kindness toward them. “By which He guides”—that is, by means of it—“whomever He wills” among His servants. It is also possible that “that” refers to the Quran which We have described to you.
It is “Allah’s guidance,” and there is no path that leads to Allah except through it. “By which He guides whomever He wills among His servants”—those whose intentions are sound—as the Most High says, “Through it Allah guides those who seek His pleasure to the paths of peace.”
“And whoever Allah leaves astray shall have no guide,” because there is no way to reach Him except through His enabling grace and being enabled to turn to His Book. If this is not granted, there is no path to guidance—only manifest misguidance and misery.