هُدًى وَرَحمَةً لِلمُحسِنينَ
A guidance and mercy for the virtuous.
EXPOSITION
The words guidance and mercy clarify the signs (i.e. verses) mentioned in the previous verse. They answer the question: what kind of verses are these? And the answer is: they are both a guidance and a mercy. Since these verses are included in the wise book, it could be argued that these two descriptions also describe the book by extension. Thus, the wise book is also a guidance and mercy. The Quran is described as guidance and mercy in other verses too, such as 7:52, 16:64, and 16:89. This is the ultimate goal of the Quran’s revelation.
Interestingly, this verse specifies that the Quranic verses are A guidance and mercy for the virtuous despite the Quran being guidance for all of mankind, virtuous and vicious alike, The month of Ramadan is one in which the Quran was sent down as guidance to mankind (2:185). This may be resolved as follows: the Quran, by its nature and essence, is a guidance for mankind. Every sane person, possessing a sound heart and mind, would be guided to the truth if he or she carefully listened to and reflected on its verses. However, only the God-conscious would benefit from it as mentioned in 2:2, or the believers as in 7:52, 16:64, and 27:2, or those who sincerely submit as in 16:89, or the virtuous, as in this verse. Hence, there is no contradiction at all. This is similar to a teacher teaching a class consisting of intelligent and studious students, as well as dull and lazy students. The teacher teaches them all but it is only the intelligent and hardworking ones that benefit from the lessons and whose futures are bright. The same holds true for the Quran. It addresses all of mankind without exception, however only those who pay heed to it, believe in it, submit to it, and are God-conscious and virtuous will benefit from it, and hence this verse specifies them. In addition, it is the believing, God-conscious, virtuous ones who continue to increase in faith, piety, and virtue by means of the Quran, As for those who are [rightly] guided, He enhances their guidance, and invests them with their God-wariness (47:17).
The next verse describes the virtuous with three qualities which correlate with their benefitting from the Quran. This is as if a person asks: if the Quran is guidance and mercy for the virtuous, then who are these virtuous ones? The next verse responds with an explanation.
[1] Darwish, 7/527; Tabrisi, 8/489; Kashif, 6/156.
[2] Tabrisi, 8/490.
[3] Munyah, 21/318.
[4] Amthal, 13/11.
[5] Tibyan, 8/269; Munyah, 21/318.
[6] Kashif, 1/42.
[7] Kashif, 1/42.
[8] Tabrisi.J, 3/276; Munyah, 21/318-319.