The Clear and the Ambiguous in the Qur'an

Question:
May Allah reward you, Honorable Shaykh. This questioner asks: What is the clear (muhkam) and the ambiguous (mutashabih), and how do we distinguish between them?

Answer:
The clear and the ambiguous. The scholars have mentioned meanings for these terms in the principles of exegesis and the principles of jurisprudence. Among these is what Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) mentioned at the beginning of his al-Tamimiyyah treatise, discussing these verses . He said (may Allah have mercy on him), and the substance and meaning of his statement is that the Qur'an is described as entirely clear (muhkam). Allah the Exalted said: , meaning that it is all perfect, with no contradiction or difference in it. So it is all clear (muhkam), with no deficiency in it, no contradiction in it; its parts confirm one another. It is also described that the Qur'an is entirely ambiguous (mutashabih). It is said that the Qur'an is entirely ambiguous (mutashabih), meaning that its parts resemble one another in beauty, in beauty, . It is described as entirely ambiguous (mutashabih), meaning that its parts resemble one another in beauty, perfection, inimitability, clarity, eloquence, and rhetoric.
Some of it is called muhkam (clear and decisive), and some of it is called mutashabih (ambiguous), as in Surat al-Imran: , meaning that some of it consists of clear, decisive verses and others are ambiguous. The scholars have explained this distinction by saying that the muhkam is that which does not need anything else to explain its meaning; it is clear in itself, such as . "Establish prayer and give zakah," and other such commands and prohibitions. This is what does not need anything else to clarify it; it is clear in itself. As for the mutashabih, it is that which needs something to explain it; it is not clear from its wording alone and requires interpretation. This includes the absolute and the qualified, the specific and the general, the abrogating and the abrogated, and the general and the detailed. This is the meaning of muhkam and mutashabih in the Qur'an, in brief. There is also mutashabih that no one knows except Allah.
Ambiguity has two or three categories. The first category is what we mentioned to you, which is beauty and the resemblance of its parts to one another. The second meaning is generality or absoluteness, or the abrogating and the abrogated, and so on. The third meaning is ambiguity that no one knows except Allah, which is the bliss in Paradise, the punishment in the Fire, what is in the grave, and future matters; no one knows them except Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He).
And at the forefront of that is His own Self (Glorified and Exalted is He), His names, and His attributes. No one knows their reality and essence except Allah (Mighty and Majestic). The reality of the names and attributes and the essence of the names and attributes are known to no one except Allah (Mighty and Majestic). For example, "Our Lord descends to the lowest heaven." The descent is known, but the manner of the descent is known to no one except Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He). "He established Himself over the Throne." The establishment (istiwa') is known; its meaning is clear and known, which is being above and elevated. As for the manner of the establishment, how He established Himself over the Throne, how does He establish Himself? This is known to no one except Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He). Yes.