Az-Zumar (The Groups)

27. And indeed We have put forth for [the Guidance of] man, in this Qur’an every kind of similitude in order that they may remember.

28. An Arabic [and eloquent] Qur’an, without any crookedness in order that they may fear God.

Guiding and reminding men of their duties, through producing arguments or similitude, is of significance.

The Holy Qur’an includes:

“every kind of similitude”

for reminding him of his obligations and making him to avoid neglectfulness.

Ordinary people

(“for man”)

are more prone to be impressed by similitude rather than argument.

Proceeding with the aforementioned discussions, the blessed Verse in question mainly treats of the Holy Qur’an and Its characteristics.

Mention is made in the first place of the question of the comprehensiveness of the Holy Qur’an:

“And indeed We have put for [the Guidance of] man, in this Qur’an every kind of similitude in order that they may remember.”

The Divine Book includes the excruciating fates of the disobedient and tyrants in the past, the dire consequences of sinfulness, every admonition, secrets of creation and its systematicity, clear and precise Laws and Injunctions, and whatever is required for man’s guidance in the form of similitude

“in order that they may remember”

and return to the Straight Path. It is worthy of note that the Arabic word mathal is applied to any word that embodies a truth, depicts something, or likens something to something else.

The expression includes all the facts and points included in the Holy Qur’an and specifies Its comprehensiveness.

Verse 28 provides another depiction of the Holy Qur’an saying:

“An Arabic [and eloquent] Qur’an, without any crookedness.”

Three characteristics are being enumerated herein. Firstly, the expression Qur’an-an makes a reference to the fact that Qur’anic Verses are being recited at all times in daily prayers and otherwise, in solitude and in assemblies, and throughout the history of Islam to the end of the world; such that It is an ever illuminating Light of Guidance.

The other point is the eloquence, elegance, and impressiveness of the Divine Word expressed by the word:

“Arabic” (‘Arabiy-yan), since the word is ad hoc employed in the sense of “eloquent.”

Some philologists and exegets maintain that ‘iwaj and ‘awaj are applied to inward and outward crookedness respectively, an instance of which is to found elsewhere in the Qur’an¹ :

“You will see in it [i.e., plain] nothing crooked or curved,”

as a consequence of which a number of philologists consider the former interpretation to be general.²

It is noteworthy that the Revelation of the Holy Qur’an with so many characteristics is that man may fear God and be pious.

The other point worthy of note is that the penultimate Verse closes with:

“in order that they may remember,”

where as the last One ends in:

“in order that they may fear God.”

The reason is that Remembrance at all times is a prelude to fear of God; in other words, the latter is the fruit of the former.