If they are false, they cannot justify diverting the name of Allah, Mighty and Majestic, from its import and meaning. If they are true, there is no doubt that they are obscure and ambiguous, that people disagree over them, and that they can only be grasped through prolonged reflection and extensive inquiry. It is well known that someone whose words have an apparent meaning may not intend something contrary to that meaning on the strength of such an indication—especially the Messenger, who conveyed the message clearly.

The eleventh point: There is no doubt that Allah has commanded all His servants to recite this surah and encouraged them to recite it repeatedly, both within and outside prayer. Indeed, reciting and reading it are among the greatest and most manifest symbols of Islam among the learned and the general public alike. If its apparent meaning is false and misleading, how could it be permissible to refrain from explaining this and leave His servants exposed to such perils? Allah Most High has said:

“And Allah would not let a people go astray after He has guided them until He makes clear to them what they should avoid.” [al-Tawbah 115]