Q&A

The Ambiguous (Mutashabihat) Verses in the Qur'an and Their Meanings

The Qur'an, with its eloquent style and profound meanings, contains verses of varying clarity. Some are clear and unequivocal, understood unanimously, while others are mutashabihat (ambiguous or similar-looking) — their meanings are not immediately clear and may allow for multiple interpretations. The Qur'an itself mentions this division in Surah Aal-Imran, verse 7, explaining how people approach these ambiguous verses.

Interpretation of the Mutashabihat in Surah Aal-Imran, Verse 7

The verse states:
"It is He who has sent down to you the Book. Some of its verses are muhkam (clear and precise) — they are the foundation of the Book — and others are mutashabihat (ambiguous). As for those in whose hearts is deviation, they follow that which is ambiguous, seeking discord and its interpretation. But no one knows its true interpretation except Allah. And those firmly grounded in knowledge say, 'We believe in it; all is from our Lord.' And none will be reminded except those of understanding." [Aal-Imran: 7]

Meaning, Types, and Scholarly Views on the Mutashabihat

• Linguistically: Mutashabihat means similarity or resemblance — something that looks like or resembles something else.
• In the Qur'anic context: These are verses whose meanings are not immediately clear, may have multiple interpretations, are hidden or only understood by those deeply rooted in knowledge, or whose knowledge is exclusively with Allah.

Types of Mutashabihat:

1. Regarding Divine Attributes:
   These verses describe attributes of Allah that, if taken literally and superficially, might suggest similarity between the Creator and the creation. Examples include:

• "The Most Merciful established Himself above the Throne." (Ta-Ha: 5)
• "The hand of Allah is over their hands." (Al-Fath: 10)
• "The face of your Lord full of Majesty and Honor." (Ar-Rahman: 27)
  These should not be interpreted in a physical or anthropomorphic sense. Two main approaches exist: Tafwidh (consigning the meaning): Accepted by the righteous predecessors and majority of scholars; affirming the attributes as revealed and consigning the knowledge of how to Allah alone. Ta’wil (figurative interpretation): Adopted by some later scholars, interpreting “hand” as power, “established” as dominance, etc. The safest approach is tafwidh.

2. Ambiguous or Rare Words and Meanings:
   This includes letters like Alif Lam Mim, Kaf Ha Ya Ayn Sad, Ha Mim at the beginning of certain chapters, whose meanings are known only to Allah. Such expressions require faith and trust in the divine wisdom.
3. Matters of the Unseen:
   Verses about unseen realities, such as the nature of the soul or the timing of the Hour. Examples:

• "They ask you about the soul. Say: The soul is of the command of my Lord." (Al-Isra: 85)
• "They ask you about the Hour, when is its arrival?" (An-Nazi'at: 42)
  These are matters known only to Allah, and believers must accept this fully.

The Danger of Following the Ambiguous for Those Not Firm in Knowledge:

The verse warns that those with deviation in their hearts follow the ambiguous verses to sow discord and twist meanings, causing confusion and misguidance, often driven by personal or sectarian agendas.

The Stance of Those Firm in Knowledge:

• They accept the ambiguous verses without denial, affirming all is from Allah.
• They interpret ambiguous verses in light of the clear (muhkam) ones, ensuring no conflict with fundamental religious principles.
• They recognize that some knowledge is exclusive to Allah and refrain from speculation.

In conclusion, the mutashabihat verses test the believers. Those who follow the clear verses and believe in the ambiguous as Allah intended are rightly guided. Those who exploit the ambiguous for mischief or distortion are misguided. These verses serve to distinguish sincere, sound hearts that submit to Allah’s command from those that seek to sow doubt and confusion.