Is it forbidden for one who is not a scholar to attempt to understand the meanings of the clear verses of the Qur’an, or should he read the Qur’an without understanding unless he has memorized the exegesis?

It is forbidden to interpret the Qur’an without knowledge, because the one who does so undertakes what he has no knowledge of and makes mistakes, even if he happens to get the meaning right. As for contemplating the Qur’an, it is a مطلوب (commanded) act, enjoined by Allah the Almighty in His saying: {Do they not then contemplate the Qur’an? Had it been from other than Allah, they would surely have found therein much discrepancy} [An-Nisa': 82], and His saying: {A Book We have sent down to you, full of blessings, that they may ponder over its verses, and that men of understanding may remember} [Sad: 29].