the Christians of Najrān, who came to the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—and debated with him about the Messiah. It is related that the opening portion of Āl ‘Imrān was revealed concerning them, since most of it concerns the Messiah. Their adherence to the ambiguous passages consisted in saying, “Did He not say in your Book, ‘Indeed, We’ and ‘We’? This indicates that there are three gods.” Thus they abandoned the clear passages in Allah’s Book, such as His words:

“And your God is one God.” [al-Baqarah 163]

And His words:

“They have certainly disbelieved who say, ‘Allah is the third of three.’ And there is no god except one God.” [al-Mā’idah 73]

Instead, they followed the ambiguous passages, seeking discord and seeking their interpretation. Likewise, it may be said of someone who fastens upon the expression “Our Eyes” and disregards “My Eye” that he has followed the ambiguous rather than the clear passages, seeking discord and seeking their interpretation.

It is established in the Sahīh, on the authority of ‘Ā’ishah—may Allah be pleased with her—that the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said: “O ‘Ā’ishah, when you see those who follow what is ambiguous in it