Moreover, the purpose of speech is to convey understanding. If that is not its purpose, it is futile and vain. Allah Most High has declared Himself far above doing anything vain or futile. How, then, could He utter vain and futile words, sending down speech to His creation without intending them to understand it? This is among the strongest arguments of those who reject the faith.

Furthermore, there is not a verse in the Quran whose meaning the Companions and those who followed them in righteousness have not discussed and explained. If it is said, “But they may disagree about some of this,” the answer is: “They may likewise disagree about verses containing commands and prohibitions.” Yet Muslims agree that those firmly grounded in knowledge know the meanings of verses containing commands and prohibitions.

This also demonstrates that those firmly grounded in knowledge know the explanation of the ambiguous passages. For ambiguity may occur in verses containing commands and prohibitions just as it may occur in verses conveying information. Scholars agree that those firmly grounded in knowledge understand the former; the same therefore applies to the latter. According to those who deny this, however, none but Allah knows the meaning of the ambiguous passages—not an angel, a messenger, or a scholar. This contradicts the consensus of Muslims concerning ambiguous passages containing commands and prohibitions.

Moreover, the term “interpretation” applies to clear passages just as it applies to ambiguous ones, as the Quran, the Sunnah, and the statements of the Companions demonstrate. Since they know the meaning of the clear passages, they likewise know the meaning of the ambiguous ones. What distinction do the ambiguous passages possess that Allah alone should know their meaning? The clear passages are superior to them, yet He has explained their meaning to His servants. What distinction, then, do the ambiguous passages possess that Allah should reserve knowledge of their meaning for Himself? As for matters whose knowledge Allah has reserved for Himself, such as the time of the Hour, He has not sent down concerning them