Verse 7
Arabic Text:
هُوَ الَّذِي أَنزَلَ عَلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ مِنْهُ آيَاتٌ مُّحْكَمَاتٌ هُنَّ أُمُّ الْكِتَابِ وَأُخَرُ مُتَشَابِهَاتٌ ۖ فَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ زَيْغٌ فَيَتَّبِعُونَ مَا تَشَابَهَ مِنْهُ ابْتِغَاءَ الْفِتْنَةِ وَابْتِغَاءَ تَأْوِيلِهِ ۗ وَمَا يَعْلَمُ تَأْوِيلَهُ إِلَّا اللَّهُ ۗ وَالرَّاسِخُونَ فِي الْعِلْمِ يَقُولُونَ آمَنَّا بِهِ كُلٌّ مِّنْ عِندِ رَبِّنَا ۗ وَمَا يَذَّكَّرُ إِلَّا أُولُو الْأَلْبَابِ
English Translation:
He it is Who has revealed to you the Book wherein there are verses clear, they are the basis of the Book, and others allegorical; but those in whose hearts is perversity follow the allegorical seeking (to cause) dissension by seeking to explain it. None knows its explanation 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/Explanation by Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi:
Muhkam means that which has been made firmly and perfectly. The muhkam verses mentioned here are those Qur’anic verses which are embodied in clear and lucid language and whose meaning is not liable to any ambiguity and equivocation. The words of these verses are clear pointers to their true meaning and, therefore, it is difficult to subject them to arbitrary interpretation. Such verses form the core of the Holy Book; they are the verses which fulfil the true purpose for which the Qur’an was revealed, and they invite the whole world to Islam. They embody admonition and instruction as well as the refutation of erroneous doctrines and the elucidation of the Right Way. They also contain the fundamentals of the true faith; teachings relating to belief, worship and morality, and mandatory duties and prohibitions. These are the verses which will guide the genuine seeker after Truth who turns to the Qur’an in order to find out what he ought and ought not to do.
‘Ambiguous’ verses are those whose meaning may have some degree of equivocation. It is obvious that no way of life can be prescribed for man unless a certain amount of knowledge explaining the truth about the universe, about its origin and end, about man’s position in it and other matters of similar importance, is intimated to him. It is also evident that the truths which lie beyond the range of human perception have always eluded and will continue to elude man; no words exist in the human vocabulary which either express or portray them. In speaking about such things, we necessarily resort to words and expressions generally employed in connection with tangible objects. In the Qur’an, too, this kind of language is employed in relation to supernatural matters; the verses which have been characterized as ‘ambiguous’ refer to such matters.
At best, such expressions may serve to either bring man close to or enable him to formulate some view of reality, even if it is a faint one. The more one tries to determine the precise meaning of such verses, the more their ambiguities proliferate, and the more one is confronted with choosing between several plausible interpretations. All this is likely to alienate one progressively further away from the Truth instead of bringing one closer to it. Those who seek the Truth and do not hanker after the satisfaction of their egocentric quest for exotic superfluities, will be satisfied with the dim vision of reality derived from these verses. They will concentrate their attention instead on the clear and lucid ‘core’ verses of the Qur’an. It will be left to those who are either out to make mischief and mislead people or who have an abnormal passion for superfluities to devote their attention to hair-splitting discussions about the contents of the ‘ambiguous’ verses.
This might give rise to an unnecessary problem: How can people believe in ‘ambiguous’ verses when the contents of these cannot be grasped? The fact is that a reasonable person will believe that the Qur’an is the Book of God through his reading of its clear and lucid verses, rather than by learning fanciful interpretations of the ambiguous verses. Once so convinced, he is not likely to be worried by doubts and anxieties caused by the ambiguities of the verses concerned. One who seeks the Truth is satisfied with the obvious meaning of these verses, and wherever he encounters complications and ambiguities he abstains from pursuing their solution too far. Instead of wasting his time splitting hairs, he is content to believe in the things laid down in the Book of God, without seeking to know them precisely and in detail. He turns his attention, in the main, to questions of a practical nature.
Verse 8
Arabic Text:
رَبَّنَا لَا تُزِغْ قُلُوبَنَا بَعْدَ إِذْ هَدَيْتَنَا وَهَبْ لَنَا مِن لَّدُنْكَ رَحْمَةً ۚ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ الْوَهَّابُ
English Translation:
Our Lord! Let not our hearts deviate after Thou hast guided us, and bestow upon us mercy from Thy Presence; surely Thou art the Bestower.
Commentary/Explanation by Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi:
They pray to Allah: ‘Our Lord! Do not let our hearts swerve towards crookedness after You have guided us to the right way, and bestow upon us Your mercy. Surely You, only You, are the Munificent Giver!
Verse 9
Arabic Text:
رَبَّنَا إِنَّكَ جَامِعُ النَّاسِ لِيَوْمٍ لَّا رَيْبَ فِيهِ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُخْلِفُ الْمِيعَادَ
English Translation:
Our Lord! Thou art He Who will gather mankind together on the Day about which there is no doubt. Surely Allah does not fail to keep (His) promise.
Commentary/Explanation by Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi:
Our Lord! You surely will gather mankind together one Day, a Day about (the coming of which) there is no doubt. Surely Allah never goes against His promise.
Q&A Session: Surah Al-Imran (Chapter 3), Verses 7-9
Based on Tafheem-ul-Quran by Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi
VERSE 7: The Nature of Quranic Verses
Arabic Text
هُوَ الَّذِي أَنزَلَ عَلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ مِنْهُ آيَاتٌ مُّحْكَمَاتٌ هُنَّ أُمُّ الْكِتَابِ وَأُخَرُ مُتَشَابِهَاتٌ ۖ فَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ زَيْغٌ فَيَتَّبِعُونَ مَا تَشَابَهَ مِنْهُ ابْتِغَاءَ الْفِتْنَةِ وَابْتِغَاءَ تَأْوِيلِهِ ۗ وَمَا يَعْلَمُ تَأْوِيلَهُ إِلَّا اللَّهُ ۗ وَالرَّاسِخُونَ فِي الْعِلْمِ يَقُولُونَ آمَنَّا بِهِ كُلٌّ مِّنْ عِندِ رَبِّنَا ۗ وَمَا يَذَّكَّرُ إِلَّا أُولُو الْأَلْبَابِ
Translation
He it is Who has revealed to you the Book wherein there are verses clear, they are the basis of the Book, and others allegorical; but those in whose hearts is perversity follow the allegorical seeking to cause dissension by seeking to explain it. None knows its explanation 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.
Q1: What does the term “muhkam” mean?
A: Muhkam means that which has been made firmly and perfectly. In the context of the Quran, muhkam verses are those embodied in clear and lucid language whose meaning is not liable to any ambiguity and equivocation.
Q2: What are the characteristics of muhkam (clear) verses?
A: Muhkam verses have several key characteristics. Their words are clear pointers to their true meaning, making it difficult to subject them to arbitrary interpretation. They form the core of the Holy Book and fulfill the true purpose for which the Quran was revealed. These verses invite the whole world to Islam, embody admonition and instruction, refute erroneous doctrines, elucidate the Right Way, contain the fundamentals of true faith, provide teachings relating to belief, worship and morality, and outline mandatory duties and prohibitions.
Q3: Who will benefit most from the muhkam verses?
A: The genuine seeker after Truth who turns to the Quran in order to find out what he ought and ought not to do will be guided by these verses.
Q4: What are mutashabihat (ambiguous) verses?
A: Ambiguous verses are those whose meaning may have some degree of equivocation. These are verses that deal with matters beyond the range of human perception, such as truths about the universe, its origin and end, man’s position in it, and other supernatural matters.
Q5: Why does the Quran contain ambiguous verses?
A: No way of life can be prescribed for man unless a certain amount of knowledge explaining the truth about the universe, its origin and end, and man’s position in it is intimated to him. Since truths that lie beyond human perception have always eluded and will continue to elude man, and no words exist in human vocabulary to express or portray them, the Quran necessarily resorts to words and expressions generally employed in connection with tangible objects when discussing supernatural matters.
Q6: What is the purpose of ambiguous verses?
A: At best, such expressions may serve to either bring man close to or enable him to formulate some view of reality, even if it is a faint one. They provide a dim vision of truths that cannot be fully comprehended through human language and perception.
Q7: What happens when people try to determine the precise meaning of ambiguous verses?
A: The more one tries to determine the precise meaning of such verses, the more their ambiguities proliferate, and the more one is confronted with choosing between several plausible interpretations. All this is likely to alienate one progressively further away from the Truth instead of bringing one closer to it.
Q8: How should truth-seekers approach ambiguous verses?
A: Those who seek the Truth and do not hanker after the satisfaction of their egocentric quest for exotic superfluities will be satisfied with the dim vision of reality derived from these verses. They will concentrate their attention instead on the clear and lucid core verses of the Quran.
Q9: Who focuses excessively on ambiguous verses, and why?
A: Those who are either out to make mischief and mislead people, or who have an abnormal passion for superfluities, devote their attention to hair-splitting discussions about the contents of ambiguous verses.
Q10: How can people believe in ambiguous verses when their contents cannot be fully grasped?
A: A reasonable person will believe that the Quran is the Book of God through his reading of its clear and lucid verses, rather than by learning fanciful interpretations of the ambiguous verses. Once convinced that the Quran is from God, he is not likely to be worried by doubts and anxieties caused by the ambiguities of certain verses.
Q11: What is the practical approach for dealing with ambiguous verses?
A: One who seeks the Truth is satisfied with the obvious meaning of these verses, and wherever he encounters complications and ambiguities, he abstains from pursuing their solution too far. Instead of wasting time splitting hairs, he is content to believe in the things laid down in the Book of God without seeking to know them precisely and in detail. He turns his attention, in the main, to questions of a practical nature.
VERSE 8: A Supplication for Steadfastness
Arabic Text
رَبَّنَا لَا تُزِغْ قُلُوبَنَا بَعْدَ إِذْ هَدَيْتَنَا وَهَبْ لَنَا مِن لَّدُنْكَ رَحْمَةً ۚ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ الْوَهَّابُ
Translation
Our Lord! Let not our hearts deviate after Thou hast guided us, and bestow upon us mercy from Thy Presence; surely Thou art the Bestower.
Q12: What is the main prayer in Verse 8?
A: The believers pray to Allah: “Our Lord! Do not let our hearts swerve towards crookedness after You have guided us to the right way, and bestow upon us Your mercy. Surely You, only You, are the Munificent Giver!”
Q13: What does this supplication reveal about the nature of faith and guidance?
A: This supplication reflects the believer’s recognition of their dependence on God’s continued guidance and mercy. It acknowledges that steadfastness in faith is a divine gift rather than solely a human achievement, and that believers need Allah’s ongoing support to remain on the straight path.
VERSE 9: The Certainty of the Day of Judgment
Arabic Text
رَبَّنَا إِنَّكَ جَامِعُ النَّاسِ لِيَوْمٍ لَّا رَيْبَ فِيهِ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُخْلِفُ الْمِيعَادَ
Translation
Our Lord! Thou art He Who will gather mankind together on the Day about which there is no doubt. Surely Allah does not fail to keep His promise.
Q14: What is the core message of Verse 9?
A: The verse continues the supplication with an affirmation: “Our Lord! You surely will gather mankind together one Day, a Day about the coming of which there is no doubt. Surely Allah never goes against His promise.”
Q15: What does this verse teach about the Day of Judgment?
A: This statement affirms the believer’s conviction in the certainty of the Day of Judgment and Allah’s faithfulness to His promises. It reinforces the accountability that awaits all humanity and emphasizes that this promised Day will undoubtedly come to pass.
Summary Questions
Q16: What are the main lessons from these three verses?
A: These three verses from Surah Al-Imran provide fundamental insights into understanding the Quran, the proper approach to faith, and the believer’s relationship with divine guidance. They teach us to focus on what is clear and actionable in the Quran, to maintain humility regarding matters beyond our complete understanding, to constantly seek God’s continued guidance for steadfastness, and to remain mindful of our ultimate accountability before our Creator.
Q17: What is the balanced approach to studying the Quran according to these verses?
A: The balanced approach is to concentrate primarily on the clear, unambiguous verses that provide practical guidance for life, while accepting the ambiguous verses with faith and humility, without excessive speculation or hair-splitting debates. One should believe in the entire Quran as the Word of God while recognizing that complete understanding of all matters, especially those beyond human perception, belongs to Allah alone.
Messages from Quran 