The term “ta’wīl” occurs in several places in the Quran with this meaning. Allah Most High says:

“We have certainly brought them a Book which We have explained in detail with knowledge, as guidance and mercy for people who believe.”

“Do they await anything but its fulfilment? On the Day its fulfilment comes, those who had forgotten it before will say, ‘The messengers of our Lord certainly came with the truth.’”

He thus states that He has explained the Book in detail: this means clarifying it and distinguishing its meanings so that no confusion remains. He then says, “Do they await”—that is, wait for—“anything but its fulfilment? On the Day its fulfilment comes,” and so on to the end of the verse.

This refers precisely to the coming to pass of what the Quran foretells concerning the Resurrection and its signs: the Beast, Gog and Magog, the sun rising from the west, the coming of your Lord and the angels, rank upon rank, and what the Hereafter contains of records of deeds, scales, Paradise, Hell, the various forms of bliss and punishment, and other things. At that time they will say:

“The messengers of our Lord certainly came with the truth. Have we any intercessors who will intercede for us? Or could we be sent back, so that we might act differently from the way we used to act?”

None but Allah knows the timing, extent, and nature of these matters foretold by the Quran. For Allah says:

“No soul knows what delights have been kept hidden for them.”

And He says:

“I have prepared for My righteous servants what no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no human heart has ever conceived.”

Ibn ‘Abbās said: “Nothing of what is in Paradise exists in this world except the names.” Allah has told us that Paradise contains wine, milk, water, silk, gold, silver, and other things, and we know with certainty that