Is the Qur'an a Difficult Book to Understand?

It is possible to evaluate this issue in two ways in terms of the first and later addressees of the Qur'an. When we look at it from the point of view of the first addressees, it would not be right to say that people have difficulty in understanding it. Because the Qur'an itself states that it consists of clear verses and is an easy book to take advice from. 

“And We have certainly made the Qur'an easy for remembrance, so is there any who will remember?” (Qamar, 54/17)

“And We have certainly revealed to you verses [which are] clear proofs…” (Baqarah, 2/99)

The Qur'an is not a book that only people with a high level of intelligence and culture can understand. Again, the Qur'an should not be thought of as a book full of codes that can be deciphered by specially equipped people. On the contrary, the Qur'an introduces itself as a guide for all people. (Baqarah, 2/185)

It is certain that there are subjects in the Qur'an that require expertise. Performing tafsir and making judgments from Qur'an is not a job for everyone. But the Qur'an accepts people from all walks of life as its target audience, with different levels of education and culture. Therefore, everyone has a share of the Qur'an according to their level of understanding and knowledge. Because the main purpose of the Qur'an is to connect people to their Lord with the consciousness of tawhid and to become a mature believer with morals and virtues.