The explanation of the previous aya 15: 87
a Any words repeated in speaking or writing is
like the Book of Deuteronomy in the Bible, [which is called Deuteronomy] because some commandments and rites had been mentioned before, then were repeated in this Deuteronomy Book
Therefore, (
We have offered to you, [Mohammed], seven [stories which had been written in the Torah and have been] repeated [in the Quran]) means: seven stories of the past prophets which we had mentioned to Moses, and his people had written them in the Torah, then when these stories have been written in the Quran, they have become ‘repeated’ stories: it means:
they were written twice: the first time in the Torah for Moses, and the second in the Quran for Mohammed
This is confirmed by His saying – be glorified – in the
Quran 39: 23, which means
God has revealed the best story: a book [: the Quran] similar [to the story of the Torah], repeated, at which the skins of those who fear their Lord tremble with quivering, then their skins and their hearts do soften to the admonition of God
Therefore
(
God has revealed the best story) means : the best stories of the ancient people in order that your heart Mohammed may be reassured, and your nation may take lesson of the nations before them with their prophets
The indication of this is His saying – be glorified – in the
Quran 12: 3, which means
(
We do relate to you [Mohammed] the best of stories [of the ancient
(
a book [: the Quran] similar [to the story of the Torah
It means: the stories that We have revealed in the Quran is similar to the stories of the prophets
The indication of this is in His saying – be glorified – in the
Quran 87: 18-19, which means
Surely, [We mentioned all] this in the former [heavenly] scriptures: The scriptures of Abraham and [the scriptures of] Moses [: the Torah
And in His saying – be glorified – in the
Quran 20: 133, which means
(
Has not come to them the clear explanation of [the story of the past nations] that is in the former Scripture [: the Torah, the Psalms and the Gospel
repeated) means: it is mentioned twice:
one time in the Torah and the other time it is for Mohammed in the Quran, so they became "repeated
(
at which the skins of those who fear their Lord tremble with quivering)
It means: At such stories, the skins tremble with quivering
The meaning: When believers hear the stories of the past nations who denied the messengers and how God terminated them with various kinds of punishment, then their skins quiver because of mentioning and hearing such stories, and they fear of their Lord and ward off His punishment by doing righteousness acts and avoiding the sins
then their skins and their hearts do soften to the admonition of God) because of the good reward and prosperity in Paradise, with which God promises them
b It means:
We have given you also the Quran, which none of the prophets had before, as to its fluency, eloquence, laws, telling about the past, foretelling about the future, and others
As regards to the seven stories mentioned in the Bible, the Book of Genesis, and are also mentioned in the Quran are: the
story of Adam, Noah, Abraham, Lot, Ishmael, Jacob and Joseph: all these came before Moses, and God mentioned their stories to Moses, so his people wrote them in the Torah Collection [and were then included in the Old Testament
http://quran-ayat.com/pret/contents.php
http://quran-ayat.com/interpretation.pdf