in this world or in the Hereafter. They also censured those who interpreted His words, Most High:

“And He is Allah in the heavens and on the earth.” [al-Anʿām 3]

to mean that He is in both, and those who interpreted His words:

“There is nothing like unto Him.” [al-Shūrā 11]

as negating His attributes. Thus, they rejected false interpretations, such as those mentioned by this man and others.

In their usage, interpretation did not mean diverting wording from its more likely meaning to a less likely one. Rather, they called explanation “interpretation,” and also used that term for what the wording ultimately refers to, even when this accords with its apparent meaning. They rejected false explanations of the Quran and hadiths—these being false interpretations.