Al-Ma'idah: 48
"And We have revealed to you the Book..."
If you ask: What is the difference between the two definite articles in His saying: "And We have revealed to you the Book" and His saying: "confirming what came before it of the Book"?
I say: The first is the definite article of specific reference (al-‘ahd), for it refers to the Qur’an. The second is the definite article of generic classification (al-jins), for it refers to the genus of revealed books. It is also permissible to say it is for specific reference, as it does not mean everything that falls under the name "book" absolutely, but rather a known type of it: that which was revealed from heaven other than the Qur’an.
"And a guardian (muhayminan)"
A watcher over the rest of the books, for it testifies to their authenticity and stability.
It is also recited as muhaymanan ‘alayhi (with a fatha on the mim), meaning: He (God) has guarded it, protecting it from alteration and substitution, as He said: "Falsehood cannot approach it from before it or from behind it" (Fussilat: 42). That which God—Mighty and Majestic is He—has guarded, or the memorizers in every land have guarded; if a single letter, vowel, or pause were altered, everyone would notice it and recoil, rejecting and denying it.
"And do not follow..."
The meaning is: Do not deviate. Therefore, it is connected with ‘an (from), as if it were said: "Do not deviate from what has come to you of the truth, following their desires."
"To each of you We have appointed..."
O people.
"A law (shir‘atan)..."
A religious code (shari‘ah). Yahya ibn Waththab recited it with a fatha on the shin.
"And a clear path (minhajan)..."
A clear way in religion upon which you proceed. It is said that this is evidence that we are not bound by the laws of those before us.
"To make you one nation..."
A group in agreement upon one law, or possessing one nation, meaning one religion in which there is no disagreement.
"But [He intended]..."
He intended: "to test you in what He has given you" of different laws. Will you act upon them, submissive and believing that they are interests that have differed according to circumstances and times, acknowledging that God intended nothing by their difference except what wisdom required? Or will you follow doubts and be negligent in action?
"So race to [all that is] good..."
Hasten to them and compete toward them.
"To God is your return all together..."
A new sentence serving as the reason for racing to good deeds.
"Then He will inform you..."
He will tell you, with a certainty that leaves no room for doubt, of the decisive recompense between those of you who are truthful and those who are false, and those who are diligent and those who are negligent in their deeds.
