Az-Zumar (The Groups)

23. Allah has sent down the Best Statement, a Book whose [Verses] resemble each other. The skins of those who fear their Lord shiver from [its recitation]. Then their skin and their heart soften to the remembrance of Allah [through faith and intimacy]. That is Divine Guidance. He Guides therewith whom He wills and whosoever Allah sends astray [because of his disobeying Him], for him there is no guide.

The word:

hadith

is employed in the sense of “word, statement.”

In the blessed Verse in question, it makes a reference to the Holy Qur’an which is the Best Statement, since it embraces comprehensiveness, eloquence, and firmness.

The word:

mutashabih (“similar; polysemous; equivocal”)

is per se polysemous, since some of the Verses are equivocal as opposed to the clear and unequivocal Ones.

According to a Verse in Chapter three,

“They [constitute] the Mother of the Book and others [are] equivocal”;

however, the word mutashabih in this Verse implies the similarity of Qur’anic Verses and it is employed as an adjective modifying all the Verses.

The word:

mathani

is the plural form of mathniya (“inclination, tendency”) indicating the proximity of Qur’anic Verses such that some of which interpret some others; in other words, the same meaning may be found in different forms.

It is noteworthy that the preceding Verses treated of God’s servants who listen to the words and select the best of them and also mention was made of open breasts and broadened minds prepared to embrace Divine Word.

In the same vein, the blessed Verse in question makes mention of the Holy Qur’an in order to complete the foregoing discussions concerning Divine Unity and Resurrection substantiated with arguments put forward for the veracity of prophethood.

The Verse opens with:

“Allah has sent down the Best Statement, a Book whose [Verses] resemble each other.”

It further proceeds with an enumeration of the merits of the Holy Qur’an among which three merits of this Glorious Divine Book is mentioned:

“a Book whose [Verses] resemble each other.”

The word mutashabih ad hoc refers to a statement whose constituent elements are consistent and harmonious, in which neither inconsistency nor discrepancy may be found, but one is better than the other.

Furthermore, another characteristic of this Book is that it is oft-repeated (mathani). The expression may allude to the reiteration of different topics mentioned in the stories and admonitions, but they are never boring, rather they are enthusing and invigorating.

It is one of the fundamental principles of eloquence that as required, a point may be reiterated in a novel and interesting manner for a more profound impression in the audience.

Besides, the reiteration of Qur’anic themes help to interpret each other and may thus provide answers to many a question. Some maintain that it makes a reference to the reiteration in reciting the Holy Qur’an and the fact that Qur’anic Verses never lose their freshness through repetition.

Some also make a reference to the Revelation of the Qur’an once at one single time on the Night of Decree (laylat al-qadr) and also at different times within a period of 23 years. It is also possible that the reiteration of the Qur’anic Truth at any time and a novel manifestation of the same out of occultation refer to the passage of time.

The first interpretation sounds more preferable; however the foregoing interpretations are not inconsistent, rather they complement each other.

Furthermore, the Verse proceeds toward an exposition of the last characteristics of the Holy Qur’an, namely Its extraordinary and profound impression, saying:

“The skins of those who fear their Lord shiver from [its recitation]. Then their skin and their heart soften to the remembrance of Allah [through faith and intimacy].”

This is an elegant depiction of the unusual impression caused by Qur’anic Verses in welcoming hearts that causes fear and awe in the first place which leads to awakening and beginning of motion. Such fear makes man attend to his different obligations.

It is in the second place that he attains to flexibility and welcoming the Word of Truth leading to peace of mind.

The two fold state demonstrating different stages of:

“treading the Path toward Allah”

which is quite understandable.

The blessed Verses revealing Divine Wrath and warning the Noble Prophet (S) make the hearts shiver which are followed by the Verses designating Divine Mercy and thus leading to peace of mind. Reflection upon the Essence of Truth and the Pre-eternality and Infiniteness of His Pure Essence causes fear in his heart as to the manner through which He may be known, but pondering on the Signs of the Sacred Essence in the horizons and souls bestows peace of mind on him.¹

The history of Islam abounds in instances of the extraordinary impression of the Holy Qur’an in the hearts of both believers and non-believers whose hearts were prepared to welcome It and such unusual impression bears witness to the Divine Revelation of this Holy Book.

According to a tradition narrated on the authority of Asma’,

“Upon the recitation of the Holy Qur’an, the Companions of the Prophet (S) wept and shuddered in awe.”2

Regarding the pious, the Commander of the Faithful, Imam ‘Ali (as) makes an exposition of such truth in the best possible manner:

“Those stand in prayer at night time, recite the Holy Qur’an in a meditative and clearly enunciated manner, immerse their souls in it in a pleasing sadness, seek the cure of their pain in it; whenever they come unto any encouraging Verse, they set their hopes on it and the eyes of their hearts gaze at it in astonishment and they set it as their example, and when they come unto One in which there are warning and inspiration of awe, they listen to them wholeheartedly, as if they the moans and the flames of the awe inspiring Hell fire echo in their hearts.”

The blessed Verse closes thus:

“That is Divine Guidance. He Guides therewith whom He wills and whosoever Allah sends astray [because of his disobeying Him], for him there is no guide.”

It is true that the Holy Qur’an is revealed for the Guidance of all, but truth seekers and the pious may solely benefit from the Light of Its Guidance.

Those whose hearts are intentionally sealed and the shadows of bias and obduracy dominates their souls not only may not benefit from It, but also owing to their obduracy and enmity, they sink further in error.

Thus the Verse proceeds with:

“He Guides therewith whom He wills and whosoever Allah sends astray [because of his disobeying Him], for him there is no guide.”

Such error is owing to their own deeds springing from their will and it is in no way inconsistent with the human free will.