What is the meaning of the saying of Allah the Exalted: "Allah has sent down the best of speech, a Book similar in its parts, in pairs; the skin of those who fear their Lord shudders from it, then their skins and their hearts soften at the remembrance of Allah. That is the guidance of Allah, by which He guides whom He wills, and whom Allah leaves astray, for him there is no guide."

The questioner : The second question also asks: What is the meaning of the saying of Allah the Exalted in Surat al-Zumar: ?

The Shaykh : Its meaning is that Allah the Exalted informs that He has sent down the best of speech, a Book, which is the Noble Qur'an that He sent down upon Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). He sent it down as a Book that is similar in its parts, where some of it resembles some other in perfection and quality, and where some of it agrees with some other, containing no contradiction or difference, as Allah the Exalted said: . In it, meanings, states, and rulings are repeated. Allah Blessed and Exalted is He mentions a report in which He praises a group of people, and another report in which He criticizes a group. Allah the Exalted mentions a report about Paradise, then about the Fire, and Allah the Exalted mentions a report about truth, then about falsehood, and so on, in pairs. It contains verses that are rulings, and verses that are promises and warnings, so that a person is constantly turning over in this great Book among its verses and its great meanings. For this reason, He said: , because of its greatness, the awe of it, and the fear of the warnings contained in it. Then after that, , and tranquility and stability settle in them, . This is a description of the Noble Qur'an as being similar in its parts. In other verses, Allah the Exalted described it as clear and decisive, stating that some of it is clear and decisive and some of it is similar in its parts. Therefore, we need to distinguish between these descriptions. Describing the Qur'an as entirely clear and decisive means that it is at the peak of quality, precision, and craftsmanship. Describing the Qur'an as entirely similar in its parts means that some of it resembles some other in perfection, quality, and craftsmanship. Describing the Qur'an as some of it being clear and decisive and some of it being similar in its parts means that some of its verses are clear and decisive in meaning, with no apparent contradiction or inconsistency, while some of it is similar in its parts, the meaning of which is confusing to many people, and some may perceive a contradiction in it, though that is not the case. Only those firmly grounded in knowledge know this; they understand the meanings of these subtle verses, which some people may interpret as contradictory, but which are not.
People are divided into two categories regarding these similar verses. One group follows the similar parts of the Qur'an seeking to cause fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) and to turn people away from the clear and decisive verses of the Qur'an, and from the religion, faith, and certainty. They follow what is similar in it seeking to cause fitnah and seeking its figurative interpretation. As for those firmly grounded in knowledge, they believe that it is from Allah and say, "We believe in it; all of it is from our Lord." They know how to reconcile these similar verses with the clear and decisive verses by referring the similar to the clear and decisive, so that the entire Qur'an becomes clear and decisive. And only those of understanding remember this.

The questioner : May Allah reward you with good. This message is from the sister Munira 'Abd al-'Aziz from the noble city of Makkah.