''Muḥkam'' and ''Mutashābih'' ( ar, محکم و متشابه) are

Arabic Arabic (, ' ; , ' or ) is a Semitic language spoken primarily across the Arab world.Semitic languages: an international handbook / edited by Stefan Weninger; in collaboration with Geoffrey Khan, Michael P. Streck, Janet C. E.Watson; Walter ...

words that are used in the

Qurʾān The Quran (, ; Standard Arabic: , Quranic Arabic: , , 'the recitation'), also romanized Qur'an or Koran, is the central religious text of Islam, believed by Muslims to be a revelation from God in Islam, God. It is organized in 114 surah, cha ...

. ''Muhkam'' can be translated as " decisive" and ''Mutashabih'' as "

allegorical As a literary device or artistic form, an allegory is a narrative or visual representation in which a character, place, or event can be interpreted to represent a hidden meaning with moral or political significance. Authors have used allegory t ...

Quranic passage

"He it is Who has revealed the Book to you; some of its verses are decisive (Muhkam), they are the basis of the Book, and others are allegorical (Mutashabih); then as for those in whose hearts there is perversity they follow the part of it which is allegorical, seeking to mislead and seeking to give it (their own) interpretation. but none knows its interpretation except Allah, and those who are firmly rooted in knowledge say: We believe in it, it is all from our Lord; and none do mind except those having understanding."

Commentary

It was reported from ʿ Alī that he stated, " hose rooted in knowledgeare the ones whom knowledge has protected from plunging nto the interpretation of the Qurʾānaccording to some whim (hawā) or with set arguments (ḥujaj maḍrūba) without wareness ofthe unseen ysteries(ghuyūb)."

Notes

{{Reflist, 2 Quranic exegesis Arabic words and phrases

Quranic passage

Commentary

See also

Notes