Such verses form the core of the 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, refutation of erroneous doctrines as well as elucidation of the Right Way. They also contain the fundamentals of the true faith, embodying teachings relating to belief, worship and morality, and mandatory duties and prohibitions.
2 “Ambiguous” (mutashabih) 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, 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 that are 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.
97
Al [Imran 3: 8–11
“We believe in it; it is all from our Lord alone.”3 No one derives true admonition from anything except the people of understanding. (8) 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 for You are the Munifi- cent Giver! (9) Our Lord! One Day You will surely gather all mankind together, a Day about (the coming of which) there is no doubt. Surely Allah never goes against His promise.”
(10) As for the unbelievers, neither their wealth nor their offspring will avail them in the least against Allah. They shall be the fuel of the Fire. (11) (To them shall happen) the like of what happened to the people of Pharaoh, and those before them. They rejected Our signs as false, so Allah seized them for their sins. Allah indeed is severe in punishment. ▶
3 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 have faith 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 troubled by doubts and anxieties caused by the ambiguities of a few verses.
98
Al [Imran 3: 12–14
(12) Tell those who have disbelieved: “You shall soon be overpowered and mustered to Hell; what an evil resting place!” (13) You have already come across an instructive sign in the two hosts that encountered each other in battle (at Badr): one host fighting in the way of Allah, and the other that of unbelievers. They saw with their very eyes that one host was twice the number of the other.4 But (the result of the battle proved that) Allah succours with His victory whomsoever He wills. In this there is surely a lesson for all who have discerning eyes.
(14) People are naturally tempted by the lure of women, children, treasures of gold and silver, horses of mark, cattle and plantations. These are the enjoyments in the life of this world; but with Allah lies a goodly abode to return to. ▶
4 The actual disparity between the two armies was roughly that of three to one, but even a cursory glance was enough to tell the casual observer that the army of unbelievers was about twice as large as that of the believers.
99
Al [Imran 3: 15–19
(15) Say: “Shall I tell you of things better than these? For the God-fearing there are, with their Lord, Gardens beneath which rivers flow; there they will abide for ever, will have spouses of stainless purity as companions, and will enjoy the good pleasure of Allah.” Allah thoroughly observes His ser- vants. (16) These are the ones who pray: “Our Lord! We do indeed believe, so forgive us our sins and keep us safe from the chastisement of the Fire;” (17) people who are steadfast, truthful, obedient, spend (in the way of Allah) and implore Allah’s forgiveness before daybreak.
(18) Allah Himself bears witness that there is no god but He; and likewise do the angels and those possessed of knowledge bear witness in truth and justice that there is no god but He, the All-Mighty, the All-Wise. (19) The true religion with Allah is Islam. The People of the Book adopted many different ways rather than follow the True Way of Islam even after the knowledge of Truth had reached them, ▶
100
Al [Imran 3: 20–2
and this merely to commit excesses against one another. Let him who refuses to follow the ordinances and directives of Allah know that Allah is swift in His reckoning. (20) But if they remonstrate with you, tell them: “I have submitted my whole being to Allah, and so have those who follow me.” And ask the People of the Book as well as those who follow no heavenly Scripture: “Have you also submitted (to Allah)?” If they have submitted to Him, they are indeed on the Right Way; but if they turn away from submitting to Allah, then your duty is merely to deliver the Message. Allah observes the affairs of His servants.
(21) Give those who refuse to follow the directives of Allah, who unjustly slay the Prophets, and slay those who enjoin justice, the glad tidings of a grievous chastisement. (22) These are the people whose works have gone to waste both in this world and in the World to Come. They have none to come to their help.
101
Al [Imran 3: 23–7
(23) Have you not noticed those who were given a portion of the Book? Whenever their learned men are summoned to the Book of Allah to judge the differences among them, a party of them turns away in aversion. (24) This is because they say: “The Fire of Hell shall not touch us except for a limited number of days.” The false beliefs which they have forged have deluded them in their faith. (25) How, then, will they fare when We shall gather them all together to witness the Day about (the coming of) which there is no doubt, and when every human being shall be paid in full for what he has done, and none shall be wronged?
(26) Say: “O Allah, Lord of all dominion! You bestow dominion on whomever You please, and take away domin- ion from whomever You please, and You exalt whom You please, and abase whom You please. In Your Hand is all good. Surely You are All-Powerful. (27) You cause the night to pass into the day and the day to pass into the night. ▶
102
Al [Imran 3: 28–9
