Quran Universe
16:64

وَمَآ أَنزَلۡنَا عَلَيۡكَ ٱلۡكِتَٰبَ إِلَّا لِتُبَيِّنَ لَهُمُ ٱلَّذِي ٱخۡتَلَفُواْ فِيهِ وَهُدٗى وَرَحۡمَةٗ لِّقَوۡمٖ يُؤۡمِنُونَ

Wama anzalna AAalayka alkitaba illa litubayyina lahumu allathee ikhtalafoo feehi wahudan warahmatan liqawmin yuminoona

And We have not revealed to you the Book, [O Muhammad], except for you to make clear to them that wherein they have differed and as guidance and mercy for a people who believe.

Word by word
  1. وَمَآAnd not
  2. أَنزَلۡنَاWe revealed
  3. عَلَيۡكَto you
  4. ٱلۡكِتَٰبَthe Book
  5. إِلَّاexcept
  6. لِتُبَيِّنَthat you make clear
  7. لَهُمُto them
  8. ٱلَّذِيthat which
  9. ٱخۡتَلَفُواْthey differed
  10. فِيهِin it
  11. وَهُدٗىand (as) a guidance
  12. وَرَحۡمَةٗand mercy
  13. لِّقَوۡمٖfor a people
  14. يُؤۡمِنُونَwho believe
An-Nahl · 16:64Makkah

The Book came to settle disputes and to guide with mercy.

Why the Quran was revealed

What the Book does
makes clearwhat people argue over
guidancefor hearts
mercyfor those who hold to it
What it is for
a book to ownkept on the shelf
a judge to consultin every argument

Ibn Kathir says Allah revealed the Book to His Messenger ﷺ to explain the truth in matters people dispute over, so the Quran is a decisive arbitrator for every argument. It is guidance for hearts and mercy for the one who holds to it.

Your family is split over how to handle a hard situation. Everyone has opinions, a cousin forwards a video. The Book was sent to be the place you go first, not last.

The Quran is for special occasions and prayer.

The Quran is meant to settle my real disputes and guide my real decisions.

Try this

Next time you disagree with someone about right and wrong, look up what the Quran says first.

Simplified reflection. Read the tafsir for scholarship.draft
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (shared passage from 16:63)

By Allah, We indeed sent (Messengers) to the nations before you, but Shaytan made their deeds seeming fair to them. So today he is their helper, and theirs will be a painful torment (63)And We have not revealed the Book to you, except that you may clearly explain to them those things in which they differ, and (as) a guidance and a mercy for a people who believe (64)And Allah sends water down from the sky, then He revives the earth with it after its death. Surely that is a sign for people who listen (65)

Finding Consolation in the Reminder of Those Who came before

Allah says, 'He sent Messengers to the nations of the past, and they were rejected. You, O Muhammad, have an example in your brothers among the Messengers, so do not be distressed by your people's rejection. As for the idolators' rejection of the Messengers, the reason for this is that the Shaytan made their deeds attractive to them.'

فَهُوَ وَلِيُّهُمُ الْيَوْمَ

(So today he (Shaytan) is their helper,) meaning they will be suffering punishment while Shaytan is their only helper, and he cannot save them, so they have no one to answer their calls for help, and theirs is a painful punishment.

The Reason why the Qur'an was revealed

Then Allah says to His Messenger ﷺ that He has revealed the Book to him to explain the truth to mankind in matters which they dispute over. So the Qur'an is a decisive arbitrator for every issue that they argue about.

وَهُدًى

(and (as) a guidance) meaning, for their hearts.

وَرَحْمَةً

(and a mercy) meaning, for the one who adheres to it.

لِّقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ

(for a people who believe.) Just as Allah causes the Qur'an to bring life to hearts that were dead from disbelief, so He brings the earth to life after it has died, by sending down water from the sky.

إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَةً لِّقَوْمٍ يَسْمَعُونَ

(Surely that is a sign for people who listen.) meaning those who understand the words and their meanings.