Who Explains the Verses?

We hear a lot from the Hadith followers that the Messenger (Muhammad) was supposed to "Explain" the Verses of Allah to us. And that "Explanation" is the hadith narrations….

Here is one of the verses:

"And We have not revealed to you the Book except that you may (Litubayyina) to them that over which they differ, and as a guidance and mercy for a people who believe."

The word that they translate as (explain) is "Litubayyina" which comes from the same root word as "Mubin" which means (Clear).

The trilateral root is (Ba-Ya-Nun) which carries definitions such as: Make Clear, To become clear, To become evident or manifest.

So as we can see none of these definitions mean "Explain"…according to the root word… "Litubayyina" means to "make clear."

Making something clear and explaining are two different things

Making something clear (clarifying): This focuses on removing confusion or ambiguity. It means bringing something into a state where it can be understood or distinguished.

Explaining: This usually involves giving details, reasons, or background so someone understands how or why something is the case.

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was not the only messenger who was commanded to make the revelation clear. Allah tells us that this was the purpose of sending all messengers.

"And We did not send any messenger except [speaking] in the language of his people so that he may make clear to them. Then Allah sends astray whom He wills and guides whom He wills. And He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise."

This verse explains how the messengers made the revelation clear: Allah sent each messenger with the language of his own people so that the message could be understood by those receiving it.

The messenger delivers and recites the revelation in a language his people understand, and through that message they are either guided or they turn away. Allah connects the clarity of the message with the language in which it is delivered.

Therefore, the language of revelation itself is part of how Allah made His message clear to each nation. The responsibility of the messenger was to convey and deliver the revelation that Allah sent.

Allah further shows that the "making clear" of the message comes through the recitation of the Qur’an itself. Not an extended explanation.

"Say, [O Muhammad], 'I have only been commanded to worship the Lord of this city, who made it sacred, and to Him belongs all things. And I am commanded to be among those who submit to Allah, and to recite the Qur’an.' Then whoever is guided is only guided for his own soul, and whoever goes astray, then say, 'I am only one of the warners.'"

Notice that Allah says the Messenger was commanded to recite the Qur’an. The verse then explains that whoever is guided is guided for their own benefit, and whoever goes astray does so against themselves. This shows that the recitation of the Qur’an is directly connected to guidance. For people to be guided or misguided by what is recited, they must be able to understand the message being conveyed. A person cannot accept or reject a message that they cannot comprehend.

Therefore, the Qur’an’s recitation was the means through which people received guidance because the revelation itself conveyed a clear message when it was recited. Allah describes the Qur’an as a clear Book (kitāb mubīn) and describes its verses as clear.

Allah also highlights the connection between recitation and understanding

"And when you recite the Qur’an, We put between you and those who do not believe in the Hereafter a hidden barrier. And We have placed coverings over their hearts lest they understand it, and deafness in their ears. And when you mention your Lord in the Quran Alone, they turn away in aversion."

Notice how Allah does not say "When you explain the Quran". But again Allah says: "When you RECITE the Quran." The verse describes the people’s response to the Qur’an when it is being recited. Allah says that some were prevented from understanding it because of a barrier placed between them, coverings over their hearts, and deafness in their ears.

This indicates that the Qur’an itself, when recited, carried a message that could be understood. Their inability to understand was not because the revelation was unclear, but because of the barriers Allah describes.

This is consistent with Allah’s description of the Qur’an as a clear Book and its verses as clear. Therefore, the Messenger made the revelation clear by conveying and reciting the clear verses that Allah revealed.

If the messenger is not the one who explains the verses, then who is the One that explains them?

Allah repeatedly tells us throughout the Qur’an that He is the One who explains, details, and makes the verses clear to us.

"And thus do We explain the verses, so that perhaps they will return."

"Say, 'Have you considered: if Allah should take away your hearing and your sight and set a seal upon your hearts, which deity other than Allah could bring them back to you?' Look how We explain the verses; then they still turn away."

"And We have certainly explained for mankind in this Qur’an every kind of example, but most of the people refused anything except disbelief."

These verses all attribute the explaining of the verses directly to Allah. However, Allah uses different words to describe this act.

In 7:174, Allah uses نُفَصِّلُ (nufaṣṣilu), from the root ف ص ل (f-ṣ-l), meaning to separate, distinguish, make distinct, and explain in detail. In the Qur’an, this specific expression "We explain/detail" (nufaṣṣilu) is used by Allah when referring to His own explanation of the verses.

Allah also uses نُصَرِّفُ (nuṣarrifu) and صَرَّفْنَا (ṣarrafnā) from the root ص ر ف (ṣ-r-f), which carries the meaning of turning, varying, and presenting something in different ways.

More Examples include:

"Thus do We explain the verses for a people who use reason."

"And thus do We explain the verses, and [thus] the way of the criminals will become evident."

"Thus do We explain the verses for a people who know."

"Look how We explain the signs so that they might understand."

"And We have certainly varied/explained in this Qur’an so that they might be reminded, but it does not increase the disbelievers except in aversion."

"And thus do We explain the verses so the disbelievers will say, 'You have studied,' and so We may make the Qur’an clear for a people who know."

In all of these examples, Allah attributes the explaining and clarifying of the verses to Himself. This shows that the source of the explanation is Allah and His revelation. The messenger’s role is to convey and recite what Allah revealed, while Allah is the One who placed the details, distinctions, and clarification within the Qur’an itself.

"It is not a fabricated Hadith, but a confirmation of what was before it and a detailed explanation (وَتَفْصِيلَ) of all things..."

The word وَتَفْصِيلَ (tafṣīla) comes from the same root as نُفَصِّلُ (nufaṣṣilu) — ف ص ل (f-ṣ-l) — showing the connection between Allah’s explaining of the verses and the detailed explanation contained within the Qur’an.

Therefore, according to these verses, Allah is the One who explains the revelation. He explains it through the details, examples, signs, and distinctions He placed within His Book. Those who reflect and use their intellect are able to understand the verses, as Allah says:

"Thus do We explain the verses for a people who use their intellect."