Sura’tul Kahf (Chapter 18:1)

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
الحمد لله الذي أنزل على عبده الكتاب ولم يجعل له عوجا – [سورة الكهف – آية 1]

All the praises and thanks be to Allah, Who has sent down to His slave (Muhammad, pbuh) the Book (the Quran), and has not placed therein any deviance (crookedness). [Qur’an 18:1]

I. Definition of “لم يجعل له عوجا”
Arabic Term: لَمْ يَجْعَلْ لَهُ عِوَجًا Translation: He has not made therein any deviance. Commentary: (meaning) no inconsistency, no contradiction, no deviation from the truth, and no departure from wisdom.

II. General Interpretation (Thematic Summary)
Source: Tafsir As-Sa’di (Partially) Translation: The praise is due to Allah for His attributes, which are all descriptions of perfection, and for His apparent and hidden blessings, both religious and worldly. He favored humanity by sending down the Quran upon His servant and Messenger, Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), and He has not placed within it anything that deviates from the truth.

III. Detailed Interpretation and Qualities of the Quran (Tafsir As-Sa’di)
Source: Tafsir As-Sa’di Translation:

“All praise is due to Allah” is the praise of Him for His attributes, which are all attributes of perfection, and for His blessings, both manifest and hidden, religious and worldly. The greatest of His blessings, absolutely, is the sending down of the Magnificent Book upon His servant and Messenger, Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him).

Therefore, He praised Himself, and implicitly, He guided His servants to praise Him for sending the Messenger to them and revealing the Book to them.

He then described this Book with two comprehensive descriptions which imply that it is complete in all aspects:

The negation of deviance (نفي العوج): This entails that there is no falsehood in its narrations, and no injustice or frivolousness in its commands and prohibitions.

The affirmation of its straightness/uprightness (إثبات الاستقامة): This entails that it does not narrate or command except the noblest of narrations—the news that fills hearts with knowledge, faith, and intellect, such as the news of Allah’s Names, Attributes, and Actions, including past and future unseen matters. Furthermore, its commands and prohibitions purify, refine, cultivate, and perfect souls, for they encompass perfect justice, equity, sincerity, and exclusive worship of Allah, the Lord of the worlds, alone, without partner.

It is fitting that a Book possessing these characteristics should be the reason for Allah to praise Himself for its revelation, and to offer it as a merit to His servants.