''Muḥkam'' and ''Mutashābih'' () in
Quranic exegesis
Tafsir ( ; ) refers to an exegesis, or commentary, of the Quran. An author of a ''tafsir'' is a ' (; plural: ). A Quranic ''tafsir'' attempts to provide elucidation, explanation, interpretation, context or commentary for clear understanding ...
is the categorization of verses as "clear" (''Muhkam'') or "ambiguous" (''Mutashabih''.)
The definition of the two terms was and remains contentious. Some exegetes consider the distinction to be of whether or not the verses require further interpretation or reflection when read. Others consider ''Mukham'' to be verses with one meaning and ''Mutashabih'' those with multiple possible meanings (and for which the most appropriate meaning needs to be deduced.)
Some of the most important ''Mutashabih'' verses are those that describe God in anthropomorphic terms, including him having "Hands", a "Face" or ascending/being on "the Throne." The question of if these terms should be read literally or metaphorically was debated extensively in the early centuries of Islam, and continues to be debated.
Quranic passage
The basis of the division of verses is the Quranic passage:
Commentary
Tafsir al-Tustari carries a report attributed toʿ
Alī
Ali ibn Abi Talib (; ) was the fourth Rashidun caliph who ruled from until his assassination in 661, as well as the first Shia Imam. He was the cousin and son-in-law of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. Born to Abu Talib ibn Abd al-Muttalib a ...
in which he states:
See also
*
Those firmly rooted in knowledge
Those firmly rooted in knowledge () is a recurring theme in the Qur'an and Sunnah. This term is of special interest for the Shi'a.
The term and its like is used in Al-Imran and .
A crux in 3:7
This verse is a crux interpretum, in that it can ...
Notes
{{Reflist, 2
Quranic exegesis
Arabic words and phrases