An Exegesis of the Word Bayān (Exposition) in Verse 19 of Sura al-Qiyāma

Abstract

Almost all Quranic exegetes believe that verses 16-19 of Sura al-Qiyāma are digressions between other main verses. While exegetes and lexicologists take the word bayān to mean an exposition or interpretation of Quranic verses, a distinction should be drawn between exposition and interpretation of the Quran. In verse 19 of the sura, the term “lie with Us” suggests God’s commitment to the expository revelation of Quranic verses, which the Prophet taught his companions, as he taught the Quran itself. What distinguishes Imam ʿAlī’s Muṣḥaf (written copy of the Quran) from ʿUthmān’s Muṣḥaf is the addition of expository revelation alongside the Quranic verses. Since Imam ʿAlī’s Muṣḥaf were inherited by later Shiite Imams, their followers were not deprived of expository revelation.

Keywords

• sura al-qiyāma
• exposition
• expository revelation
• quranic revelation
• imam ʿalī’s muṣḥaf