وَكَذَٰلِكَ نُصَرِّفُ ٱلْـَٔايَـٰتِ وَلِيَقُولُوا۟ دَرَسْتَ وَلِنُبَيِّنَهُۥ لِقَوْمٍ يَعْلَمُونَ 105
Translations
And thus do We diversify the verses so they [i.e., the disbelievers] will say, "You have studied," and so We may make it [i.e., the Qur’ān] clear for a people who know.
Transliteration
Wa-kadhalika nusarrifu al-ayati wa-liyaqulu darasta wa-linubayyinahu liqawmin ya'lamun
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah explains that He diversifies and expounds upon His signs in various ways so that the disbelievers may say Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) merely studied from others, while simultaneously clarifying the Quran for those who possess knowledge and understanding. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this verse addresses the Quraysh's accusations that the Prophet learned the Quran from human sources, while affirming that the repetition and variation of Quranic themes serve as clear proofs for the truly learned who reflect upon them.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within Surah Al-An'am, a comprehensive Meccan chapter addressing monotheism and refuting polytheistic practices. The context reflects the persistent accusations of the Meccan disbelievers against Prophet Muhammad, particularly their claim that he acquired knowledge from human teachers rather than revelation. The verse responds to these objections while emphasizing that the Quran's varying presentations of its signs are designed for those with intellectual capacity and sincere hearts to understand.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, 'The best of you are those who learn the Quran and teach it' (Sahih Bukhari 5027). Additionally, the principle reflected here relates to the hadith: 'Whoever Allah wills good for, He grants understanding of the religion' (Sahih Bukhari 71), emphasizing that comprehension of divine signs requires divine guidance and sincere seeking.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that the Quran's repetition and varied presentations of truths are not redundancies but divine wisdom designed for reflection and understanding; believers should recognize that comprehending God's signs requires both intellectual effort and sincere devotion to learning. The verse also reminds us that rejecting truth often stems from spiritual blindness rather than lack of evidence, inspiring us to constantly seek understanding with an open heart.