his truthfulness. The Quran contains clear verses that form the foundation of the Book. Their meaning is known, and they are known to be true; through them, people find guidance and benefit.

Whoever pursues the ambiguous passages seeks discord and seeks their interpretation. In the first, their intention is corrupt; as for the second, they are not qualified for it. Rather, they interpret these passages in ways that distort their meaning, since they are not firmly grounded in knowledge. One firmly grounded in knowledge is someone whose understanding of the clear passages is firmly established and unwavering. He does not doubt or become uncertain about them because of ambiguous passages that appear to contradict them; rather, he believes in them. Those firmly grounded in knowledge may know the interpretation of the ambiguous passages.

As for someone who is not firmly grounded in this understanding, but doubts the clear passages whenever an ambiguous passage appears to contradict them, he considers it possible that the ambiguous passage means something that contradicts the clear one. He therefore does not know the meaning of the ambiguous passage, since he is not firmly grounded in understanding the clear passages. He seeks discord through both. Such a person is to receive a punishment that deters him, as ‘Umar did with Sabīgh. But someone whose aim is guidance and truth is not one of these people.

‘Umar himself used to ask questions, and be asked, about the subtle meanings of verses. He asked his companions about Allah’s words:

“When Allah’s help and victory come.”

They explained the apparent meaning of its wording. But when Ibn ‘Abbās explained that it informed the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—that his death was near, ‘Umar said:

“I understand nothing from it beyond what you understand.”