Surah Al-Maeda, Verse 15 and 16

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*Surah Al-Maeda, Verse 15:*

يَا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ قَدْ جَاءَكُمْ رَسُولُنَا يُبَيِّنُ لَكُمْ كَثِيرًا مِّمَّا كُنتُمْ تُخْفُونَ مِنَ الْكِتَابِ وَيَعْفُو عَن كَثِيرٍ قَدْ جَاءَكُم مِّنَ اللَّهِ نُورٌ وَكِتَابٌ مُّبِينٌ

O people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians)! Now has come to you Our Messenger (Muhammad [Blessings and Peace of Allāh be upon him]) explaining to you much of that which you used to hide from the Scripture and passing over (i.e. leaving out without explaining) much. Indeed, there has come to you from Allah a light (Prophet Muhammad [Blessings and Peace of Allāh be upon him]) and a plain Book (this Qur-ān).

#COMMENTARY

Mubīn: I wish I could translate by a simpler word than "perspicuous." But "plain" may mean unadorned, the opposite of beautiful, and this Book is among the most beautiful that it is the privilege of mankind to read. "Clear" would be right as far as it means "unambiguous, self-evident, not involved in mysteries of origin, history, or meaning, one which every one can understand as to the essentials necessary for him, without the intervention of priests or privileged persons". Mubīn has all these meanings, but it suggests, besides, some quality of a shinning light, by which we are able to make things clear, to distinguish the true from false. This I think is suggested better by "perspicuous" than by the word "clear." Besides it is hardly good idiom to speak of "a clear book."

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*Surah Al-Maeda, Verse 16:*

يَهْدِي بِهِ اللَّهُ مَنِ اتَّبَعَ رِضْوَانَهُ سُبُلَ السَّلَامِ وَيُخْرِجُهُم مِّنَ الظُّلُمَاتِ إِلَى النُّورِ بِإِذْنِهِ وَيَهْدِيهِمْ إِلَىٰ صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ

Wherewith Allah guides all those who seek His Good Pleasure to ways of peace, and He brings them out of darkness by His Will unto light and guides them to a Straight Way (Islamic Monotheism).