What is meant by the clear and the ambiguous
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Fatwa number ( 11627 ): Q: What is meant by the clear and the ambiguous in the verses of the Noble Qur'an? And how do we address the objection raised by some, namely that if the Noble Qur'an is an explanation of everything and a guidance for all people, what is the reconciliation between that and the saying of Allah the Exalted: وَمَا يَعْلَمُ تَأْوِيلَهُ إِلا اللَّهُ وَالرَّاسِخُونَ فِي الْعِلْمِ And no one knows its [true] interpretation except Allah. But those firm in knowledge[Ali 'Imran 3:7] ? And what is meant by those firmly grounded in knowledge? And what is the difference between the interpretation (ta'wil) of the Qur'an and its exegesis?
A: First: The term "making clear" (tahkim) is used in the sense of perfection and precision. Thus, making speech clear means perfecting it and clarifying its meaning, whereby truth is distinguished from falsehood in reports, and right guidance from misguidance in commands. The entire Qur'an is clear in this sense, distinct and free from ambiguity for anyone. Allah the Exalted said:
Alif, Lam, Ra. [This is] a Book whose verses are perfected and then presented in detail from [one who is] Wise and Acquainted.
كِتَابٌ أُحْكِمَتْ آيَاتُهُ ثُمَّ فُصِّلَتْ مِنْ لَدُنْ حَكِيمٍ خَبِيرٍThese are the verses of the wise Book
تِلْكَ آيَاتُ الْكِتَابِ الْحَكِيمِSecond: The term "similarity" (tashabuh) in speech is used to denote its resemblance and consistency, meaning that its parts confirm one another in their commands; it does not command something in one place and prohibit it in another, and its parts confirm one another in their reports; if it reports the existence of something in one place, it does not report its negation in another. The entire Qur'an is similar in this sense, containing no contradiction or disorder. Allah the Exalted said:
Then 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 كَثِيرًاAllah has sent down the best statement: a consistent Book wherein is reiteration
اللَّهُ نَـزَّلَ أَحْسَنَ الْحَدِيثِ كِتَابًا مُتَشَابِهًا مَثَانِيَthemselves, the intended meaning of the similar verses becomes clear to him, and the correct path is determined for him. But whoever among the scholars stops at the similar verses and does not refer them to the clear, distinct verses falls into falsehood and strays from the straight path. This is like the Christians in their argument that Jesus is the son of Allah. Allah the Exalted says of him: He is a word of Allah which He cast to Maryam and a spirit from Him. They neglected to refer to the saying of Allah the Exalted regarding Jesus (peace be upon him):
Jesus was not but a servant upon whom We bestowed favor
إِنْ هُوَ إِلا عَبْدٌ أَنْعَمْنَا عَلَيْهِIndeed, the example of Jesus to Allah is like that of Adam. He created Him from dust; then He said to him, "Be," and he was.
إِنَّ مَثَلَ عِيسَى عِنْدَ اللَّهِ كَمَثَلِ آدَمَ خَلَقَهُ مِنْ تُرَابٍ ثُمَّ قَالَ لَهُ كُنْ فَيَكُونُ(1) Say, "He is Allah, [who is] One, (2) Allah, the Eternal Refuge. (3) He neither begets nor is born, (4) Nor is there to Him any equivalent."
قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ (1) اللَّهُ الصَّمَدُ (2) لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ (3) وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌIt 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. 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.
هُوَ الَّذِي أَنْـزَلَ عَلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ مِنْهُ آيَاتٌ مُحْكَمَاتٌ هُنَّ أُمُّ الْكِتَابِ وَأُخَرُ مُتَشَابِهَاتٌ فَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ زَيْغٌ فَيَتَّبِعُونَ مَا تَشَابَهَ مِنْهُ ابْتِغَاءَ الْفِتْنَةِ وَابْتِغَاءَ تَأْوِيلِهِ وَمَا يَعْلَمُ تَأْوِيلَهُ إِلا اللَّهُ وَالرَّاسِخُونَ فِي الْعِلْمِ يَقُولُونَ آمَنَّا بِهِ كُلٌّ مِنْ عِنْدِ رَبِّنَا وَمَا يَذَّكَّرُ إِلا أُولُو الأَلْبَابِfor the Muslims, and the reconciliation between the texts becomes clear. And those firmly grounded in knowledge are those who seek the truth and refer the similar verses to the clear verses to establish their authority, thereby removing the ambiguity in the verses that are similar in the specific sense and determining their intended meaning. This is unlike those in whose hearts is doubt and deviation; they are the ones who follow their own heads and their desires, aiming at the similar texts without referring them to the clear ones, seeking to cause fitnah (trial/discord), desiring to deceive people and mislead them from the straight path. As for the difference between the interpretation (ta'wil) of the Qur'an and its exegesis: Its interpretation may be intended to mean its exegesis with words that explain it and clarify its intended meaning, even if it involves referring it to the clear parts of it. On this basis, it is correct to stop at the word "knowledge" in the saying of Allah the Exalted:
And no one knows its [true] interpretation except Allah. But those firm in knowledge
وَمَا يَعْلَمُ تَأْوِيلَهُ إِلا اللَّهُ وَالرَّاسِخُونَ فِي الْعِلْمِAnd those firmly grounded in knowledge
وَالرَّاسِخُونَDo they await except its result? The Day its result comes those who had ignored it before will say, "The messengers of our Lord had come with the truth
هَلْ يَنْظُرُونَ إِلا تَأْوِيلَهُ يَوْمَ يَأْتِي تَأْوِيلُهُ يَقُولُ الَّذِينَ نَسُوهُ مِنْ قَبْلُ قَدْ جَاءَتْ رُسُلُ رَبِّنَا بِالْحَقِّ- when his parents and his brothers prostrated to him - regarding Yusuf (peace be upon him), that he said:
O my father, this is the fulfillment of my vision from before.
يَا أَبَتِ هَذَا تَأْوِيلُ رُؤْيَايَ مِنْ قَبْلُThe Most Merciful [who is] above the Throne established.
الرَّحْمَنُ عَلَى الْعَرْشِ اسْتَوَىAnd your Lord has come and the angels, rank upon rank,
وَجَاءَ رَبُّكَ وَالْمَلَكُ صَفًّا صَفًّاAnd no one knows its [true] interpretation except Allah
وَمَا يَعْلَمُ تَأْوِيلَهُ إِلا اللَّهُSubhanaka Allahumma Rabbanã wa bihamdika, Allãhumma ighfirli
سبحانك اللهم ربنا وبحمدك، اللهم اغفر ليthe Qur'an, meaning the saying of Allah the Exalted:
Then exalt [Him] with praise of your Lord and ask forgiveness of Him
فَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ وَاسْتَغْفِرْهُ
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.