Allāh has sent down the best statement: a consistent Book wherein is reiteration. The skins shiver therefrom of those who fear their Lord; then their skins and their hearts relax at the remembrance [i.e., mention] of Allāh. That is the guidance of Allāh by which He guides whom He wills. And one whom Allāh sends astray - for him there is no guide.
مُّتَشَٰبِهٗا(its parts) resembling each othermutashābihan
مَّثَانِيَoft-repeatedmathāniya
تَقۡشَعِرُّShivertaqshaʿirru
مِنۡهُfrom itmin'hu
جُلُودُ(the) skinsjulūdu
ٱلَّذِينَ(of) those whoalladhīna
يَخۡشَوۡنَfearyakhshawna
رَبَّهُمۡtheir Lordrabbahum
ثُمَّthenthumma
تَلِينُrelaxtalīnu
جُلُودُهُمۡtheir skinsjulūduhum
وَقُلُوبُهُمۡand their heartswaqulūbuhum
إِلَىٰatilā
ذِكۡرِ(the) remembrancedhik'ri
ٱللَّهِۚ(of) Allahl-lahi
ذَٰلِكَThatdhālika
هُدَى(is the) guidancehudā
ٱللَّهِ(of) Allahl-lahi
يَهۡدِيHe guidesyahdī
بِهِۦwith itbihi
مَنwhomman
يَشَآءُۚHe willsyashāu
وَمَنAnd whoeverwaman
يُضۡلِلِAllah lets go astrayyuḍ'lili
ٱللَّهُAllah lets go astrayl-lahu
فَمَاthen notfamā
لَهُۥfor himlahu
مِنۡanymin
هَادٍguidehādin
Tafsir
Allah sent down to His Messenger, Muhammad (peace be upon him), the Qur’ān which is the best speech. He sent it down in a manner that part of it resembles other parts in their truthfulness, beauty and consistency without disagreement. It contains numerous stories and rulings, promises and threats, attributes of the people of truth, attributes of the people of falsehood etc. The skins of those who are in awe of their Lord tremble when they hear the threats and warnings it contains. Then their skins and their hearts soften to Allah’s remembrance when they hear the hope and good news it contains. What has been mentioned, about the Qur’ān and its effect, is Allah’s guidance by which He guides whoever He wills. Those whom Allah leaves astray and does not guide, have no one to guide them.