Mukemat and Mutshabehat, Quran Has No Ambiguous Verses:
(sūrat āl ʿim’rān)Verse (3:7): هُوَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنزَلَ عَلَيۡكَ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبَ مِنۡهُ ءَايَـٰتٌ۬ مُّحۡكَمَـٰتٌ هُنَّ أُمُّ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبِ وَأُخَرُ مُتَشَـٰبِهَـٰتٌ۬ۖ فَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ فِى قُلُوبِهِمۡ زَيۡغٌ۬ فَيَتَّبِعُونَ مَا تَشَـٰبَهَ مِنۡهُ ٱبۡتِغَآءَ ٱلۡفِتۡنَةِ وَٱبۡتِغَآءَ تَأۡوِيلِهِۦۗ وَمَا يَعۡلَمُ تَأۡوِيلَهُ ۥۤ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُۗ وَٱلرَّٲسِخُونَ فِى ٱلۡعِلۡمِ يَقُولُونَ ءَامَنَّا بِهِۦ كُلٌّ۬ مِّنۡ عِندِ رَبِّنَاۗ وَمَا يَذَّكَّرُ إِلَّآ أُوْلُواْ ٱلۡأَلۡبَـٰبِ
Sahih International: 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. 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.
This verse explains that the Quran contains two types of verses:
- “Muḥ’kamāt” (مُّحۡكَمَـٰتٌ) – These are the Precise Verses, which mean exactly what they say without requiring interpretation. They are the foundation and base of the Quran.
- “Mutashābihāt” (مُتَشَـٰبِهَـٰتٌ۬) – These are Allegorical Verses (not unclear), where Allah uses examples, comparisons, or metaphors to explain something. Just like an example or metaphor a man with average intelligence can understand what is meant by this verse. These verses also convey a clear meaning (ٱلۡمُبِينِ).
(sūrat hūd)Verse (11:1): الٓرۚ كِتَـٰبٌ أُحۡكِمَتۡ ءَايَـٰتُهُ ۥ ثُمَّ فُصِّلَتۡ مِن لَّدُنۡ حَكِيمٍ خَبِيرٍ
Sahih International: Alif, Lam, Ra. [This is] a Book whose verses are perfected and then presented in detail from [one who is] Wise and Acquainted.
The Quran affirms that All of its Verses, whether precise (مُّحۡكَمَـٰتٌ) or allegorical (مُتَشَـٰبِهَـٰتٌ), are perfected (أُحۡكِمَتۡ) (26:2) and clear (ٱلۡمُبِينِ) (26:2). No Verse in the Quran is ambiguous or unclear. Since the Quran is meant for all future generations, it could be possible that some Verses may not be fully understood at present. However, this does not mean that these Verses are ambiguous or unclear in nature.
The linguist Ernest Renan (1823–1892), French orientalist, historian, and philologist:
“The Arabic language appeared in the world as a complete and perfect product, precise and magnificent. Never before has a seemingly insignificant people produced such a language. It seems as though it was created solely for the purpose of receiving the Word of God. The Quran represents a unique pinnacle in the history of humanity. No language has ever been so perfectly suited to convey divine revelations.“
- (sūrat l-shuʿarā)Verse (26:195): بِلِسَانٍ عَرَبِىٍّ۬ مُّبِينٍ۬
Sahih International: In a clear Arabic language. - (sūrat l-zumar)Verse (39:28): قُرۡءَانًا عَرَبِيًّا غَيۡرَ ذِى عِوَجٍ۬ لَّعَلَّهُمۡ يَتَّقُونَ
Sahih International: [It is] an Arabic Qur’an, without any deviance that they might become righteous. - (sūrat fuṣṣilat)Verse (41:3): كِتَـٰبٌ۬ فُصِّلَتۡ ءَايَـٰتُهُ ۥ قُرۡءَانًا عَرَبِيًّ۬ا لِّقَوۡمٍ۬ يَعۡلَمُونَ
Sahih International: A Book whose verses have been detailed, an Arabic Qur’an for a people who know, - (sūrat l-shuʿarā)Verse (26:2): تِلۡكَ ءَايَـٰتُ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبِ ٱلۡمُبِينِ
Sahih International: These are the verses of the clear Book. - (sūrat yūsuf)Verse (12:2): إِنَّآ أَنزَلۡنَـٰهُ قُرۡءَٲنًا عَرَبِيًّ۬ا لَّعَلَّكُمۡ تَعۡقِلُونَ
Sahih International: Indeed, We have sent it down as an Arabic Qur’an that you might understand.
Key Points:
- The Role of “Muḥ’kamāt”: These verses are described as the “Mother of the Book” (أُمُّ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبِ) because they form the foundation or origin of the Quran’s teachings. The term “mother” here does not literally mean a biological mother but rather denotes the source or base. Interestingly this part of Verse (أُمُّ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبِ), is itself one of Mutashābihät.
- Misinterpretation of “Mutashābihāt”: People with wrong intentions deliberately misinterpret the allegorical verses, seeking to create confusion or discord. However, those who are firm in knowledge understand that both types of verses are from Allah and must be approached with faith and sincerity to understand its correlation and deep meaning.
- Understanding Allegories: When an allegory is used, it compares specific attributes of two things, while other aspects of the comparison remain silent or irrelevant. Mostly wrong people Misinterpreting these silent aspects leads to flawed conclusions.
For example, calling “Muḥ’kamāt” the “Mother of the Book” does not imply a literal mother but highlights its importance as the Quran’s foundational source. This is an essential distinction to ensure proper understanding.