فِيهَا كُتُبٌ قَيِّمَةٌ 3
Translations
Within which are correct writings [i.e., rulings and laws].
Transliteration
Fīhā kutubun qayyimah
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to the pure and upright scriptures contained within the Scrolls of Abraham and Moses, or more broadly to the preserved divine records. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret 'kutubun qayyimah' (upright/straight books) as scriptures that are free from distortion and guide humanity toward righteousness. The emphasis on their quality and preservation demonstrates Allah's commitment to maintaining His revelation.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Al-Bayyinah, which addresses the people of the Book (Christians and Jews) and those who rejected the Message. It emphasizes that clear proofs have come through the previous messengers with preserved scriptures. The surah was revealed in Medina during a period of engagement with the People of the Book, highlighting the continuity and integrity of divine revelation across all prophets.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The best of you are those who learn the Quran and teach it' (Sahih Bukhari 5027). Additionally, the hadith about the Scrolls of Abraham emphasizes: 'The Scrolls of Abraham contained nothing but moral maxims' (At-Tirmidhi 3159).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that Allah has consistently revealed upright guidance through all His messengers, establishing the integrity and continuity of divine truth. It calls us to respect the previous scriptures while recognizing the Quran as the final, preserved revelation, and to seek knowledge from authentic divine sources.
Related Ayahs
وَهُوَ بِٱلْأُفُقِ ٱلْأَعْلَىٰ
While he was in the higher [part of the] horizon.
وَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّنِ ٱفْتَرَىٰ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ كَذِبًا أَوْ قَالَ أُوحِىَ إِلَىَّ وَلَمْ يُوحَ إِلَيْهِ شَىْءٌ وَمَن قَالَ سَأُنزِلُ مِثْلَ مَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ ۗ وَلَوْ تَرَىٰٓ إِذِ ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ فِى غَمَرَٰتِ ٱلْمَوْتِ وَٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ بَاسِطُوٓا۟ أَيْدِيهِمْ أَخْرِجُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَكُمُ ۖ ٱلْيَوْمَ تُجْزَوْنَ عَذَابَ ٱلْهُونِ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَقُولُونَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ غَيْرَ ٱلْحَقِّ وَكُنتُمْ عَنْ ءَايَـٰتِهِۦ تَسْتَكْبِرُونَ
And who is more unjust than one who invents a lie about Allāh or says, "It has been inspired to me," while nothing has been inspired to him, and one who says, "I will reveal [something] like what Allāh revealed." And if you could but see when the wrongdoers are in the overwhelming pangs of death while the angels extend their hands, [saying], "Discharge your souls! Today you will be awarded the punishment of [extreme] humiliation for what you used to say against Allāh other than the truth and [that] you were, toward His verses, being arrogant."
كِتَـٰبٌ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ فَلَا يَكُن فِى صَدْرِكَ حَرَجٌ مِّنْهُ لِتُنذِرَ بِهِۦ وَذِكْرَىٰ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
[This is] a Book revealed to you, [O Muḥammad] - so let there not be in your breast distress therefrom - that you may warn thereby and as a reminder to the believers.
الٓر ۚ تِلْكَ ءَايَـٰتُ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ ٱلْمُبِينِ
Alif, Lām, Rā. These are the verses of the clear Book.