This is the Book (the Qur'ân), whereof there is no doubt, a guidance to those who are Al-Muttaqûn [the pious and righteous persons who fear Allâh much (abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds which He has forbidden) and love Allâh much (perform all kinds of good deeds which He has ordained)]. (2:2)

"This is the Book (the Qur'ân), whereof there is no doubt"

Allah (SWT) is our provider, creator, and sustainer. He himself certifies his book and laws in order for mankind to follow. 

The Qur'an is the most precise book which represents laws that are never obsolete. Any worldly law needs improvements according to the current situation, laws improve only after loosing millions of dollars, or loss of lives. 

Allah certifies to mankind to follow the Qur'an without "but" or "why", and receive it's benefits without wasting our time in research, the loss of lives, and millions of dollars. 

Allah is our creator, provider, and sustainer, he knows what is good for us because we do not own our bodies and our souls, everything belongs to him only.   

"a guidance to those who are Al-Muttaqûn [the pious and righteous persons who fear Allâh much (abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds which He has forbidden) and love Allâh much (perform all kinds of good deeds which He has ordained)]."

Who is Allah pointing to when he mentions "Al-Muttaqun"?

Those who obey the laws of Allah without "but" or "why", and who have full belief on Allah, and they treat their worldly matters as secondary, only for passing their time during their lives.

Lets see for example if those who are pious (Al-Muttaqun) are smart people, and are they up to date with today's modern world?

Now lets realize our past lifetime, it is already a dream for us. Can we call our past even if someone pays billions of dollars, no one can buy back time, what has already passed.

These pious (Al-Muttaqun) people, who cry for there past sins, and beg for forgiveness, worship Allah every minute of their lives, and they treat their worldly things as secondary. They are not after status, and most of the time they are laughed at by their relatives, friends, neighbors, or anyone else, if people laugh at them, they are being certified as Muslims. How?

There are only two ways in this world, one way is towards Allah, and the other is the way of Satan. So whoever turns away from Allah comes in the hands of Satan. In the time of the Prophet Muhammed, people laughed at Him, and His companions. But if they worried that time, and compromised, then no one would know them today. So whoever is being laughed is a certified Muslim by the followers of Satan. 

Our status, name, and respect is not more than the Prophet, we all are under His umbrella. But if we are accepted by a non-Muslim society then that means we have become one of them. 

The smart person plans for his future, meaning the hereafter. And the loser, it is like a drunk person, or someone on drugs would always like to be in a dream, and never think what could happen in the next second of their life. They always tell themselves, don't worry, and be happy for right now, these people are the losers. Being a Muslim we do not want to be one of them, in reality life is only for a second, regardless how many years we live in this world, because the current second is our life, and the future second is in the hands of Allah, whenever he wants he can take it away from us. That second could come now, in a hour, or in ten or twenty years, Allah knows best.

Now we could judge why the pious (Al-Muttaqun) are smart people, and why does Allah give there example, now we can realize. 

The Qur'an is a guidance for those who fear Allah, but one may ask why are not people today understanding the Qur'an?

Because they forgot the controls of Allah on there brain, eyes, hearing, speech, and the rest of the body, and there surrounding lifestyles.

They forgot how quietly they loose there eyesight, without them knowing, or there memory, hearing, or the rest of there body parts, becoming weaker. Or one who is a fetus, to a new born, to a toddler, to an adult. These are all the controls of Allah, regardless of our status or money, and these things are out of anyone's hands. The one who can realize these control of Allah, then that person will start to understand the Qur'an better, instead of someone who is reading it his whole life without understanding it.  

Learn how can we be the pious in the next verse...