Is the Qur'an Truly a Clear Explanation of All Things? A Theological Challenge

 Is the Qur'an Truly a Clear Explanation of All Things? A Theological Challenge

By Dr. Maxwell Shimba
Shimba Theological Institute

The Qur'an boldly claims in Surah An-Nahl 16:89:

"And We have sent down to you the Book (the Qur'an) as an explanation of everything, a guidance, a mercy, and glad tidings for those who submit to Allah."

Yet when tested against its own words, grave contradictions and omissions become unmistakably clear.

Take for example Surah As-Saffat 37:107, which says:

"And We redeemed him with a great sacrifice."

This verse raises critical theological and textual problems:

1. Who is the "him"?
   The Qur'an refuses to name the son. Muslims claim it's Ishmael, but the text is silent. If the Qur'an is "a clear explanation of everything," why does it conceal this essential identity while the Bible openly names Isaac (Genesis 22:2)?

2. To whom did Allah offer this sacrifice?
   In every act of sacrifice, a being greater or sovereign receives it. The Qur'an offers no answer. If Allah is supreme, to whom is He sacrificing? This silence unravels the claim of divine clarity.

3. What was the 'great sacrifice'?
   No detail is given. Was it a ram? A lamb? If this is a pivotal prophetic moment, why does the Qur'an, which claims total explanation, leave it vague?

If Surah 16:89 asserts that the Qur'an explains everything, then by its own standard, it has failed this theological test. It neither identifies the person, the recipient, nor the nature of the sacrifice.

Unlike the Bible, where God speaks clearly to His prophets, names His subjects, and explains His actions in full context, the Qur'an remains riddled with ambiguities and gaps. The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob never dealt in vague, unexplained messages. Every prophecy pointed to Christ — the Lamb of God — whose identity, mission, and sacrifice are unmistakably revealed.

Therefore, if a holy book claims to explain everything but cannot answer fundamental questions from its own verses, how reliable is it as a revelation from the true God?

This is not merely a critique — it is a theological invitation to those bound by tradition to examine the Scriptures that speak plainly, clearly, and redemptively through the person of Jesus Christ — Prophet, Priest, King, and God.