Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Dear brother Burhan,

AssalaamOAlaikum

A couple of questions;

2. The Quran says that its guidance is plain and simple. Then why is it that a common person does not understand it all by himself and has to refer to you and other scholars for explanations?

Wassalaam,

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Answer:

Why one cant understand the Quran?

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad(saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Indeed, the Lord Declares in several places in the Quran that this Glorious Book and Message is an easy, clear, plain and direct message for all who wish to understand.

Allah says in Chapter 2, Surah Baqarah aayat 185:Ramadan is the month in which the Quran was sent down: this Book is a Perfect Guidance for mankind and consists of clear Teachings which show the Right Way, and are a Criterion of the Truth and falsehood.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 16 Surah Nahl verse 89: We have sent down to you this Book, which makes everything plain, and is a guidance, blessing and good news to those who have surrendered themselves entirely.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 19 Surah Maryam verse 97: We have made this Quran easy, and sent it down in your tongue so that you should give good news to the pious and warn the stubborn people.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 18 Surah Kahf verse 1-3: All praise is for Allah Alone, Who has sent down this Book to His Servant (Mohamed (saws), and assigned nothing crooked to it. This Book says everything directly, so that he may warn the people of the severe chastisement of Allah and give good news to the believers, who do righteous deeds, that they will have an excellent reward.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verse 99: We have sent down to you Revelations that clearly expound the Truth, and none but the disobedient reject them.

Your Question: Then why is it that a common person does not understand it all by himself and has to refer to you and other scholars for explanations?

Beloved and dear Brother in Islam, in all matters related to guidance like the Supreme Oneness of Allah Subhanah, or His being the One and Only Creator and Sustainer and Cherisher of the Universe, or His being the One and Only Supreme King and Judge on the Day of Judgment, or the concept of the Hereafter, or His criteria of who will receive His Mercy and who will deserve His Wrath, etc.; in all matters of guidance to the Truth, the Quran is indeed very very simple and basic and any person who wishes to seek guidance will have absolutely no doubt about any of such verses which make up the bulk of the Quran.

Then there are some laws and commands which may need some clarification, and Allah Subhanah in His Supreme and Infinite Mercy did not just reveal the Book of Guidance, but also sent His Messengers to explain them clearly to the believers.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 3 Surah Ale-Imraan verse 7: He (Allah) it is Who has sent down to thee the Book: in it are verses basic or fundamental (of established meaning); they are the foundation of the Book: others are allegorical. But those in whose hearts is perversity follow the part thereof that is allegorical, seeking discord and searching for its hidden meanings; but no one knows its hidden meanings except Allah. And those who are firmly grounded in knowledge say: "We believe in the Book; the whole of it is from our Lord"; and none will grasp the Message except men of understanding.

Thus beloved and dear Brother, the Message of the Quran regarding one’s guidance to the Straight Path is absolutely clear, plain and simple for those who wish to be guided aright. Allah and His Messenger (saws) have made it absolutely clear that there will be absolutely no room for anyone on the Day of Judgment to make an excuse that he could not understand the clear Message of the Quran!

The truth of the matter is that, since the Revelation of the Divine Message, there was never an issue with the disbelievers regarding the understanding of the Lord’s Message; but rather the issue was always its acceptance and obedience! The acceptance and obedience of Allah’s Message demands that man control his desires and lusts and the love of this transitory worldly life; and that is something the disbelievers, in their arrogance and pride, never intended to do!

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan