What is the meaning of the saying of Allah the Exalted: “As for those in whose hearts is deviation, they follow what is ambiguous in it…” to the end of the verse?
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The questioner : What is the meaning of the saying of Allah the Exalted: [Ali 'Imran 3:7], please inform us, may Allah reward you?
The Shaykh : This verse is in Surat al-Imran, and Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) has made clear that He sent down the Book to His Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and made it of two types. He said, the Exalted:[Ali 'Imran 3:7] So He (Glorified and Exalted is He) made it into two sections, or two types: one type is Muhkam, clear in meaning, with no disagreement or ambiguity in it. This is the Umm al-Kitab, meaning the reference point of the Book to which one returns, such that the Mutashabih is interpreted according to the Muhkam, so that all of it becomes Muhkam. The other type is Mutashabih. Allah the Exalted only sent it down in this way as a test for the servants, for He (Glorified and Exalted is He) knows who seeks to cause fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) and turn people away from their religion and cast doubt on the Book of Allah, and who is a sincere believer who knows that the entire Qur'an is from Allah and that there is no contradiction or disagreement in it. Allah the Exalted says: meaning ambiguous in meaning, not explicit and clear, but requiring reflection, consideration, and interpretation according to what is clear and evident. [Ali 'Imran 3:7] meaning: deviation from the truth and following of desires. [Ali 'Imran 3:7] meaning: they follow it and pursue it until they make it a means to attack the Book of Allah (Mighty and Majestic). For this reason, He said: [Ali 'Imran 3:7] meaning: turning people away from their religion, as Allah the Exalted said: [Al-Buruj 85:10] meaning: those who turned the believers away from their religion and caused them fitnah (trial, discord or temptation), meaning: seeking to distort the Qur'an and change it from its place and from what Allah intended by it. Allah (Mighty and Majestic) says: [Ali 'Imran 3:7], and regarding ta'wil (interpretation) here, the scholars differed based on the difference between the two recitations, with connection (wasl) and with pause (waqf). For there are two recitations in the verse: the recitation of connection [Ali 'Imran 3:7], in which case the intended meaning of ta'wil (interpretation) here is tafsir (exegesis). For this reason, it is narrated from Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him and him) that he said: “I am among the firmly grounded in knowledge who know its ta'wil (interpretation)” meaning: they know its tafsir (exegesis). And Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him and him) was among the most knowledgeable of people regarding the interpretation of the speech of Allah.
As for the second recitation, it is the recitation of pausing at the phrase:, and in this case, the intended meaning of ta'wil (interpretation) is the outcome to which what Allah informed about regarding Himself and the Last Day leads. For the realities of these matters are not known except by Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He). Therefore, the pause is at the phrase: , and this is what the majority of the Salaf (the earliest generations) adopted in their recitation. And the meaning of His saying: [Ali 'Imran 3:7] [An-Nisa 4:82], and then Allah concluded the verse with His saying: [Al-Baqarah 2:269] meaning: only those who possess intellect that restrains them from forbidden things and following doubts and desires will remember and take a lesson from the verses of Allah.
The questioner : May Allah reward you.
As for those in whose hearts is deviation [from truth], they will follow that of it which is unspecific, seeking discord and seeking an interpretation [suitable to them]. And no one knows its [true] interpretation except Allah. But those firm in knowledge say, "We believe in it. All [of it] is from our Lord." And no one will be reminded except those of understanding.
فَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ زَيْغٌ فَيَتَّبِعُونَ مَا تَشَابَهَ مِنْهُ ابْتِغَاءَ الْفِتْنَةِ وَابْتِغَاءَ تَأْوِيلِهِ وَمَا يَعْلَمُ تَأْوِيلَهُ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَالرَّاسِخُونَ فِي الْعِلْمِ يَقُولُونَ آمَنَّا بِهِ كُلٌّ مِنْ عِنْدِ رَبِّنَا وَمَا يَذَّكَّرُ إِلَّا أُوْلُوا الأَلْبَابِThe Shaykh : This verse is in Surat al-Imran, and Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) has made clear that He sent down the Book to His Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and made it of two types. He said, the Exalted:
It is He who has sent down to you, [O Muhammad], the Book; in it are verses [that are] precise - they are the foundation of the Book - and others unspecific
هُوَ الَّذِي أَنْزَلَ عَلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ مِنْهُ آيَاتٌ مُحْكَمَاتٌ هُنَّ أُمُّ الْكِتَابِ وَأُخَرُ مُتَشَابِهَاتٌAnd others are ambiguous
وَأُخَرُ مُتَشَابِهَاتٌAs for those in whose hearts is deviation
فَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ زَيْغٌthey will follow that of it which is unspecific
فَيَتَّبِعُونَ مَا تَشَابَهَ مِنْهُseeking discord and seeking an interpretation
ابْتِغَاءَ الْفِتْنَةِ وَابْتِغَاءَ تَأْوِيلِهِSeeking fitnah (trial, discord or temptation).
ابتغاء الفتنةIndeed, those who have tortured the believing men and believing women and then have not repented will have the punishment of Hell, and they will have the punishment of the Burning Fire.
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ فَتَنُوا الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتِ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَتُوبُوا فَلَهُمْ عَذَابُ جَهَنَّمَ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابُ الْحَرِيقِAnd seeking its ta'wil (interpretation).
وَابْتِغَاءَ تَأْوِيلِهِAnd no one knows its [true] interpretation except Allah. But those firm in knowledge
وَمَا يَعْلَمُ تَأْوِيلَهُ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَالرَّاسِخُونَ فِي الْعِلْمِAnd no one knows its [true] interpretation except Allah. But those firm in knowledge
وَمَا يَعْلَمُ تَأْوِيلَهُ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَالرَّاسِخُونَ فِي الْعِلْمِAs for the second recitation, it is the recitation of pausing at the phrase:
Except Allah.
إلا اللهExcept Allah.
إِلَّا اللَّهُBut those firm in knowledge say, "We believe in it.
وَالرَّاسِخُونَ فِي الْعِلْمِ يَقُولُونَ آمَنَّا بِهِThen do they not reflect upon the Qur'an? If it had been from [any] other than Allah, they would have found within it much contradiction.
أَفَلا يَتَدَبَّرُونَ الْقُرْآنَ وَلَوْ كَانَ مِنْ عِنْدِ غَيْرِ اللَّهِ لَوَجَدُوا فِيهِ اخْتِلافًا كَثِيرًاAnd none will remember except those of understanding.
وَمَا يَذَّكَّرُ إِلَّا أُوْلُوا الأَلْبَابِThe questioner : May Allah reward you.