What Is the Best Approach to Dealing with Ambiguous Quranic Verses?
Answered by Shaykh Anas al-Musa
Question
What is the best approach to dealing with the ambiguous verses in the Quran?
Answer
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
All praise is due to Allah, Lord of all worlds. Peace and blessings be upon the Messenger sent as a mercy to the worlds, our Master and Prophet, Muhammad, and his Family and Companions.
Ambiguous verses (mutashabihat) are those in which the intended meaning is unclear. [‘Itr, ‘Ulum al-Quran, Muhammad Bakr, Dirasat fi ‘Ulum al-Quran]
Approaches to Understanding Ambiguous Verses
- Referring ambiguous verses back to the clear (muhkamat) verses: Clear verses are those with explicit meanings that leave no room for confusion. These can serve as a foundation for understanding the ambiguous verses. Allah (Most High) says, “He is the One Who has revealed to you (O Prophet) the Book, of which some verses are precise—they are the foundation of the Book—while others are elusive.” [Quran, 3:7]
- Drawing upon the interpretations of scholars and their understanding of ambiguous verses: This can be done by consulting reliable interpretations from esteemed Muslim scholars to gain insights into the intended meanings of these verses.
- Submitting to the meaning that is beyond human understanding: For aspects of ambiguous verses that remain incomprehensible, one should submit to Allah’s wisdom, affirming that Allah knows best the true meaning, as indicated by His words, “…but none grasps their (full) meaning except Allah.” [Quran, 3:7]
Unity in Understanding Ambiguous Verses
Much scholarly debate has occurred regarding the nature of ambiguous verses and how best to approach them. Upon reviewing the various perspectives, it becomes evident that each group of scholars is earnestly seeking the correct method for understanding these verses.
Therefore, Muslims should not allow the Book of Allah—which is meant to unite them—to become a cause of division. Allah (Most High) says,
“Surely this Quran guides to what is most upright, and gives good news to the believers—who do good—that they will have a mighty reward.” [Quran, 17:9]
And Allah knows best.
May Allah bless the Prophet Muhammad and give him peace, and his Family and Companions.
[Shaykh] Anas al-Musa
Shaykh Anas al-Musa, born in Hama, Syria, in 1974, is an erudite scholar of notable repute. He graduated from the Engineering Institute in Damascus, where he specialized in General Construction, and Al-Azhar University, Faculty of Usul al-Din, where he specialized in Hadith.
He studied under prominent scholars in Damascus, including Shaykh Abdul Rahman al-Shaghouri and Shaykh Adib al-Kallas, among others. Shaykh Anas has memorized the Quran and is proficient in the ten Mutawatir recitations, having studied under Shaykh Bakri al-Tarabishi and Shaykh Mowfaq ‘Ayun. He also graduated from the Iraqi Hadith School.
He has taught numerous Islamic subjects at Shari‘a institutes in Syria and Turkey. Shaykh Anas has served as an Imam and preacher for over 15 years and is a teacher of the Quran in its various readings and narrations.
Currently, he works as a teacher at SeekersGuidance and is responsible for academic guidance there. He has completed his Master’s degree in Hadith and is now pursuing his Ph.D. in the same field. Shaykh Anas al-Musa is married and resides in Istanbul.
