In Surah Yunus (10:57), the Qur’an is described with four names: advice, cure, guidance, and mercy. Interestingly, the word order lays out the stages of how revelation transforms a person. The analogy to reflect on is that of a sick patient: 

1.⁠ ⁠Advice: The doctor tells the patient to take medicine.

2.⁠ ⁠⁠Cure: Advice only benefits the one who follows it. Once the patient takes the prescription, healing begins.

3.⁠ ⁠⁠Guidance: A pill or injection does not guarantee long-term health. The patient must commit to a healthy lifestyle and avoid bad habits.

4.⁠ ⁠⁠Mercy: Sticking to this plan with discipline brings renewed health and energy.

The Qur’an works in a similar way with the human heart. It is Allah’s advice. Some accept it, while others reject it. Those who accept it experience its cure. This can be seen in the one who embraces Islam or sincerely repents. However, this is only the starting point because a person can potentially slip back into old habits. For revelation to have a lasting effect, a person must commit to its guidance, also known as the Shariah. Therefore, the Qur’an begins as an advice, becomes a cure, provides guidance, and ultimately leads a person to Allah’s mercy. 

May Allah make the Qur’an a mercy for us.