Overview (Verses 1 - 4)

A Stern Warning for Outright Liars
 
The sūrah states its case very clearly from the outset: “ All praise is due to God who has bestowed this book from on high on His servant, and has ensured that it remains free of distortion, unerringly straight, meant to warn people of a severe punishment from Himself, and to give the believers who do good works the happy news that they shall have a goodly reward which continues to be theirs forever. Furthermore, it warns those who assert, ‘God has taken to Himself a son.”(Verses 1-4) This opening speaks of a very straightforward and decisive position. It combines this with praising God and expressing gratitude to Him for revealing the book, i.e. the Qur’ān, to ‘His servant’, Muĥammad, and for making it clear, free of distortion and absolutely straight. There is nothing in it that may be described as evasive or dodgy. Its purpose is ‘to warn people of a severe punishment from Himself’ (Verse 2)
 
The picture is clear right at the outset. There is no ambiguity or equivocation about the Islamic faith. It is God who has bestowed the book from on high, and He is to be praised for so bestowing it. Muĥammad is God’s servant, which means that everyone else is also His servant. God has no son or partner. The book itself is free of distortion and ‘unerringly straight’. The concept of the Qur’ān being straight is given first in the form of negating any possibility of distortion, and then reiterated in describing it as ‘unerringly straight’. This makes for very strong emphasis.
 
Such clarity is maintained as the purpose of revealing the Qur’ān is outlined. Indeed it has a dual purpose: “To warn people of a severe punishment from Himself and to give the believers who do good works the happy news that they shall have a goodly reward.” (Verse 2) However, the stern warning is more strongly emphasized throughout. It begins in a general way, speaking of a severe punishment that God Himself may inflict. Then the warning is reiterated for a particular group of people: “It warns those who assert, ‘God has taken to Himself son.’” (Verse 4) In between the two warnings we have the happy news given to believers who do good works.’ This serves as a condition that ensures that faith should have practical evidence in real life. It is not confined to theoretical principles that may be endlessly discussed without effect in practice.