Title: When did the Prophet Explain the Qur'an? - The Meaning of Al-Nahl 16:44 Question: Allah says that Prophet (pbuh) was sent to explain the Qur'an. We have revealed unto thee the Remembrance that thou mayst explain to mankind that which hath been revealed for them, and that haply they may reflect. [16:44] Could you please explain where we could find the explanation of Qur'an? Did the Prophet (pbuh) explain every verse of the Qur'an? What is the correct interpretation? Regards. Answer: First of all, it would not be very accurate to say that according to the referred verse, the Prophet was "sent" to explain the Qur'an. A more accurate statement would be that according to the verse, the Qur'an was revealed to the Prophet (pbuh) so that he may clearly state to the people what was revealed to him. With this clarification in mind, let us first take a look at the verse and its correct translation, according to our understanding. Al-Nahal 16: 44 says: وَأَنزَلْنَا إِلَيْكَ الذِّكْرَ لِتُبَيِّنَ لِلنَّاسِ مَا نُزِّلَ إِلَيْهِمْ وَلَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ (النحل 16: 44 ) And [now] We have revealed this reminder to you so that you clearly state to these people what has been revealed to them and so that they may ponder. As should be clear from the foregoing translation, according to our understanding, the word "تبين" should be translated as 'clearly state', 'clearly inform', 'clearly narrate' or 'clearly apprise' etc. The word does not necessarily mean 'explain', 'explicate' or 'elucidate'. The Qur'an has clearly used this word to imply 'stating' or 'making known' at other instances too. For instance, Al-Maaidah 5: 15 reads as: يَا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ قَدْ جَاءكُمْ رَسُولُنَا يُبَيِّنُ لَكُمْ كَثِيرًا مِّمَّا كُنتُمْ تُخْفُونَ مِنَ الْكِتَابِ... (المائدة 5: 15 ) O people of the Book, now our messenger has come to you making public most of that which you were hiding of the Book... Al-Nahal 16: 39 reads: لِيُبَيِّنَ لَهُمُ الَّذِي يَخْتَلِفُونَ فِيهِ وَلِيَعْلَمَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ أَنَّهُمْ كَانُواْ كَاذِبِينَ (النحل 16: 39 ) So that he clearly informs your regarding that in which you differed and so that those who persist in rejection [after this] should know that they indeed are liars. This implication of the word has been made completely apparent by combining it with its contrasting word in Aal Imraan 3: 187: وَإِذْ أَخَذَ اللّهُ مِيثَاقَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ الْكِتَابَ لَتُبَيِّنُنَّهُ لِلنَّاسِ وَلاَ تَكْتُمُونَهُ (آل عمران 3: 187 ) And recall when God took the covenant of those to whom the Book was given: You will most certainly make it known to the people and not hide it. It is clear that here the word has been used in contrast to 'concealment', clearly implying making it known clearly and publicly. This is the same meaning of the word, which has been preferred by Abu al-Layth Al-Samarqandiy . He writes: وأنزلنا إليك الذكر يعني القرآن لتبين للناس لتقرأ للناس ما نزل إليهم أي ما أمروا به في الكتاب (تفسير السمرقندي ج 2 ، ص 275 ) "And We have revealed to you this reminder", that is the Qur'an; "So that you clarify to these people", that is so that you read out for them; "What has been revealed towards them" that is what they have been ordained in the Book. I hope this explanation will answer your question. Moiz Amjad November 10, 2004