People have claimed that the Qur’an cannot be understood except by scholars, and that no one can understand the Qur’an except the scholars.
This is manifest misguidance and a lie against Allah, Mighty and Majestic.
And it is an invention against Allah, Mighty and Majestic, since Allah, Mighty and Majestic, has made the Qur’an easy upon the tongue of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and has made it easy for everyone. Allah, the Most High, says:
“It is only that We have made it easy in your tongue so that you may give glad tidings through it to those who are mindful of Allah and warn through it a contentious people.” [Maryam 19:97]
And He says:
“It is only that We have made it easy in your tongue so that perhaps they may take heed.” [al-Dukhan 44:58]
And He says:
“And We have certainly made the Qur’an easy for remembrance, so is there anyone who will take heed?” [al-Qamar 54:17]
This same verse is repeated four times in Surah al-Qamar.
And the one whom Allah commanded to explain the Qur’an is the Messenger of Allah ﷺ:
“[We sent them] with clear proofs and scriptures. And We sent down to you the Reminder so that you may explain to the people what was sent down to them, and so that perhaps they may reflect.” [al-Nahl 16:44]
So the Messenger of Allah ﷺ is the one who was commanded to explain the revelation and clarify it to the people, and no one else.
“In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Especially Merciful. Alif-Lam-Ra. These are the verses of the Clear Book. Indeed, We have sent it down as an Arabic Qur’an so that you may understand.” [Yusuf 12:1–2]
“The Clear” means the clear and evident one. Allah sent it down as an Arabic Qur’an.
“And We certainly know that they say, ‘A human being teaches him.’ The tongue of the one they refer to is foreign, while this is a clear Arabic tongue.” [al-Nahl 16:103]
A clear, evident Arabic tongue.
“In a clear Arabic tongue.” [al-Shuʿara’ 26:195]
In a clear, evident Arabic tongue.
“Indeed, We have made it an Arabic Qur’an so that you may understand.” [al-Zukhruf 43:3]
And there are many other verses which make clear that it is made easy and is not difficult; it is not riddles and symbols. And Allah appointed one person to explain the revelation, and that is the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. So whatever the Messenger of Allah ﷺ explained is what we take, and whatever the Messenger of Allah ﷺ did not explain does not need explanation.
As for the scholars, then of course they are better than us and superior, and Allah raises people in degrees through knowledge.
But does the scholar understand the Qur’an according to his own opinion???
The task of the scholars is to transmit the revelation, not to apply personal opinion to it.
For there is not a single scholar who agreed with another in the interpretation of even one verse.
And Allah, Mighty and Majestic, did not say that the Qur’an can only be understood by scholars.
Of course, understanding the religion is obligatory, and knowledge is obligatory. But understanding and knowledge are not personal opinion; rather, they are knowing the evidences, applying them, and acting upon them.
As for when a word comes and we do not understand its meaning, then we ask about the meaning of that “word.” And if there is an issue for which we do not know an evidence, then we ask the people of knowledge about the evidences.
And if a hadith comes and we do not know whether it is authentic or weak, then we ask the scholars of hadith about its authenticity or weakness.
And there is nothing beyond that.
So fear Allah… and do not fabricate lies against Allah and deny His signs.