Section Seventeen (1)
On the fact that taʾwīl—figurative reinterpretation—corrupts every branch of knowledge upon which it is unleashed (2), undermines confidence in speech, and makes it impossible for any nation to live by it.

It is self-evident that the authors of the various sciences composed their works only to clarify and elucidate those sciences for students, enabling them to grasp them by the easiest avenues available. If taʾwīl is forced upon their words and those words are taken away from their apparent meanings (3), no benefit can be derived from them; the sciences are ruined, and their very foundations and aims are annulled.

Take the discourse of physicians: if it were interpreted contrary to the well-known conventions of their profession, and the listener re-read their statements away from their obvious sense, he would never arrive at their intended meaning at all; instead, he would destroy their science and their craft.

The same holds true for mathematicians, grammarians, and every other group of scholars: once taʾwīl is let loose upon their statements, none of those sciences can be attained. This is in spite of the fact that such scholars are liable to error, contradiction, ambiguity, and obscurity in certain places, suffer from shortcomings in clarity and eloquence, and possess only a limited apprehension of realities, knowledge, and understanding.

How, then, can taʾwīl be applied to the Speech of One for whom error, slip, contradiction, or anything contrary to clarity and guidance is impossible—when His knowledge is perfect and His power to