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bi-l-bayyināti wa-z-zuburi wa-ʾanzalnā ʾilayka dh-dhikra li-tubayyina li-n-nāsi mā nuzzila ʾilayhim wa-laʿallahum yatafakkarūna
[We sent them] with manifest proofs and scriptures. We have sent down the reminder to you so that you may clarify for the people that which has been sent down to them, so that they may reflect.
— Ali Quli Qarai
Surah An-Nahl – Verse 44
44. “(We sent the prophets before you) with clear proofs (miracles) and (celestial) Books and We sent down to you the ‘Thikr’ (the Reminder, Qur’an) that you may make clear to mankind what has been sent down to them, that they may reflect.”
The Arabic term /bayyin at/ signifies clear evidences of the prophetic mission and miracles; and the word /zubur/ is the plural form of /zabūr/ which means ‘Celestial Book’. The verse probably refers to two kinds of revelation, one of which is the Qur’an, which belongs to all the people. The other one is aimed at the interpretation and explanation of the Qur’an, and which is particular and exclusive to the Prophet (S). It signifies that We sent you the ‘Thikr’, so as you explain the interpretation and commentary of the Qur’an which has been descended for the people.
Therefore, the prophets have had both miracles and Divine Book, so that the people do not get mixed up between right and wrong. The verse says:
“(We sent the prophets before you) with clear proofs (miracles) and (celestial) Books…”
Therefore, Allah implies in the Qur’an that: If you are unaware, ask those who are knowledgeable about the clear evidences and the Books of the previous prophets. It is in this way that the question of specialization has been recognized as having a sound basis in the Holy Qur’an. Furthermore, it has been the only way of acceptance or rejection in all fields, on the basis of which, all Muslims are required to have access to knowledgeable and learned people in all fields who are honest at all times and places for their reference.
Turning to the Prophet (S) later, He declares that We thus revealed to you this ‘Thikr’ (the Qur’an) so that you explain to them what is descended to the people, so that they meditate upon these verses and on their duties which are incumbent upon them. The verse says:
“…and We sent down to you the ‘Thikr’ (the Reminder, Qur’an) that you may make clear to mankind what has been sent down to them, that they may reflect.”
In fact, your call and your mission are not in principle a novelty or an unprecedented matter. It is just in the same manner which We revealed the Books to the previous prophets so as to make the people acquainted with their duties towards Allah, their own selves, and the other people. Just in the same way We also revealed this Qur’an to you so that you engage in the explanation of its didactic lessons, thus awakening mankind to meditate.
Therefore, it is the duty of the Prophet (S) to explain the Qur’an and it is the duty of the people to accept those explanations on the basis of their sound thinking, for the Qur’an is ‘Thikr’, ‘reminder’ and, at the same time, it is a way of mentioning and calling man’s attention, while distancing him from the core of negligence, oblivion and erroneous behavior.