Overview (Verses 4 - 8)

The very fact that the Qur'an was bestowed from on high on that blessed night makes this a deciding point: "On that night every matter of wisdom is made clear." (Verse 4) The Qur'an certainly set things apart, distinguishing the permanent truth from powerless falsehood. Limits were established and the road along which man should travel through life was charted. This is the road man should follow for the rest of life. Thus, none of the fundamental issues of human life are left ambiguous. Everything is made clear in the Divine message. All this has been accomplished by God's command and by His will to send messengers to clarify matters for all mankind: "By Our command,. for, indeed, We have always sent messages [of guidance] ." (Verse 5)

All this has been done as an act of mercy bestowed on mankind for all future generations up to the Day of judgement: "As a mercy from your Lord. He alone is the One who hears all and knows all." (Verse 6) Nothing manifests God's mercy like the revelation of the Qur'an. With consummate ease, it appeals directly to people's hearts as easily as the blood flowing through their veins. In this way, it transforms man into a noble creature. With Qur'anic guidance, human society becomes more like a dream world, yet it is there for eyes to see. The faith the Qur'an outlines profoundly engages hearts and minds so as to be loved passionately. The question here is not one of meticulous perfection, goodness and suitability. It is much more than that. It is a scenario in which every one of these qualities is further enhanced until their perfection attains a beauty that permeates all details and combines and harmonies them while at the same time maintaining their close links to the main body.

"As a mercy from your Lord." this is how the Qur'an was revealed on that blessed night. "He alone is the One who hears all and knows all." (Verse 6) He hears and He knows. He reveals what He reveals to people on the basis of His knowledge of what they say and do, as well as what is suitable and beneficial for them of laws, regulations and directives. He is the One who is in control of the universe, taking care of all who live on it. He is "the Lord of the heavens and the earth and all that is between them, if only you were firm believers." (Verse 7) The revelations He bestows from on high to mould people's lives is part of His Lordship of the universe and of His laws that operate in the universe.

What the oath asserts is the revelation of the book on a blessed night: "On that night every matter of wisdom is made clear by Our command; for, indeed, We have always sent messages [of guidance] as a mercy from your Lord. He alone is the One who hears all and knows all." (Verses 4-6) The reference to the night on which the Qur'an was bestowed from on high most probably means —although God knows best — the night when its revelation first started. It was a night during the month of Ramadan, which is described in the following words: "It was in the month of Ramadan that the Qur'an was revealed." (2: 185) The Qur'an was not revealed in full on that night, nor was all the Qur'an revealed during Ramadan. It had only started to make contact with the earth, and that night was the first time such contact was made.

The reference in this verse to firm belief implies an allusion to the unbelievers' confused beliefs. They recognised God as the Creator of the heavens and the earth but they, nevertheless, associated partners with Him. This means that the central principle of God's oneness was blurred in their minds, and this precluded them from having firm and reassured beliefs.

God is also the One who gives life and deals death, the Lord of all generations of creation: "There is no deity other than Him; He gives life and deals death. He is your Lord and the Lord of your earliest ancestors." (Verse 8) Both the initiation of life and its deathly end are witnessed by all and are recognised as being beyond the power of any creature. This is clear at first sight and with simple consideration. The scene of death, like the scene of new life, touches the human heart and leaves a very strong influence on it, making it ready to respond. Hence, they are often mentioned in the Qur'an to attract people's attention to them.