Written and collected by Zia H Shah MD

Abstract

The Qur’an repeatedly describes itself as Kitab al-Mubeen, meaning “the clear (or manifest) Book.” This epithet signifies a scripture that is unmistakably clear in its guidance and that makes truth manifest to humanity. In this commentary, we explore the term al-Kitab al-Mubeen from scientific, philosophical, and theological perspectives. We find that the Qur’an is “clear in itself” and also “clarifies” the truth for others tayyibaat.wordpress.com – its teachings, beliefs, and commands are presented explicitly as a manifest guidance islamicstudies.info. Philosophically, the Qur’an’s clarity is reflected in its perfect internal consistency and freedom from contradiction thequran.love thequran.love, a hallmark of divine truth that appeals to reason. Scientifically and empirically, the Qur’an invites observation of the natural world and introspection within the self, promising that its truths will become clear through signs on the horizons and within ourselves thequran.love. Theologically, Kitab al-Mubeen means the Qur’an illuminates the straight path, distinguishing right from wrong with manifest evidence tayyibaat.wordpress.com. This multidimensional clarity – in message, logic, and confirmation by reality – reaffirms the Qur’an’s status as an illumining guidance for all people, as seen in both classical scholarship and contemporary reflections on its wisdom.

Introduction: The Qur’an as a “Manifest Book”

Throughout the Qur’an, Allah emphasizes its clarity by repeatedly calling it al-Kitab al-Mubeen (“the clear Book” or “manifest Book”). Notably, this phrase appears at the start of several surahs immediately after the disjointed Arabic letters (al-ḥurūf al-muqatta‘āt) tayyibaat.wordpress.com. For example, Surah Yusuf opens, “Alif, Lam, Ra. These are the verses of the clear Book,” and Surah Al-Hijr begins, “Alif, Lam, Ra. These are the verses of the Book, and a clear Qur’an.” Likewise, Surahs An-Naml and Al-Qasas introduce the revelation as “verses of the Qur’an and a Book that is clear,” and Surahs Az-Zukhruf and Ad-Dukhan swear an oath “by the clear Book.” tayyibaat.wordpress.com

When Allah repeats an attribute of the Qur’an so many times, it signals that there is great wisdom in this emphasis tayyibaat.wordpress.com. The insistent refrain that the revelation is clear and manifest underlines that the Qur’an’s message is meant to be accessible and evident to all who ponder it. Linguistically, Mubeen (مُبِين) comes from the root bā’-yā’-nūn (ب ي ن), related to “bayān,” which conveys clarity, openness, and separateness tayyibaat.wordpress.com. Classical scholars note two complementary meanings: (1) mubeen means clear in itself, and (2) it means clarifying or making things clear for others tayyibaat.wordpress.com. In other words, the Qur’an’s content is intrinsically lucid, and it also serves to clarify truth from falsehood. As one source explains, the Qur’an “is clear and far from anything else in resemblance” – utterly unique in its guidance – and it “clarifies truth from falsehood, guidance from misguidance, … and it clarifies the mind of a person.” tayyibaat.wordpress.com Indeed, the Qur’an calls itself a bayyina (clear proof) and declares that everything it states is based on ‘ilm (Allah’s perfect knowledge), making it “authentic… unique, clear, comprehensive and profound”tayyibaat.wordpress.com. In short, the clear book is a divine beacon whose light is unblemished and whose purpose is to make the truth plain.

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