, the reply is that other scholars consider this an error. Ibn Abī Hātim mentioned this when explaining “fruit,” relating through al-Wālibī from Ibn ‘Abbās concerning:

“And fruit and pasture” (31) [‘Abasa 31],

that he said, “Fresh fruit.” He thus made this an explanation of “fruit,” which is correct, for it means fresh fruit. As for saying that abb means fresh fruit, this is an error; no one said that. Hence Allah said:

“As provision for you and your livestock” (32) [‘Abasa 32].

A detailed discussion of this belongs elsewhere. The purpose here is to illustrate that some Quranic meanings being obscure to certain leading scholars does not preclude others from knowing them, just as happens in hadith and jurisprudence. Some eminent Companions and later scholars may be unaware of hadiths of the Messenger, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and of rulings known to those below them in rank. Thus Abū Bakr, ‘Umar, and others consulted Companions of lesser standing to learn of hadiths those Companions had heard from the Messenger but which they themselves had not heard from him.