He said: “As for mutashābih (the ambiguous), this is when one thing resembles another so closely that the mind cannot distinguish between them. Allah Most High says:

‘Indeed, all cows look alike to us.’ [al-Baqarah 70]

And He Most High says:

‘Their hearts are alike.’ [al-Baqarah 118]

From this comes the expression ‘the two matters became confused,’ used when no distinction is made between them. Those who practise trickery are called purveyors of doubts. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: ‘The lawful is clear, and the unlawful is clear, and between them are doubtful matters.’ The word used here is mutashābihāt; another narration has mushtabihāt.”

He said: “This, then, is