whose meaning no one can know. This is an independent proof concerning this question.

Moreover, His statements,

“They have not fully comprehended it,”

and,

“Did you deny My signs without fully comprehending them?”

reproach them for their lack of comprehension together with their denial. If everyone were equally unable to comprehend the ambiguous passages, there would be no point in reproaching them for this particular failing; the reproach would concern their denial alone. It would be tantamount to saying, “Did you deny what you have not fully comprehended, when none but Allah can fully comprehend it?” Yet someone who denies what Allah alone knows has more excuse than someone who denies what people can know. Thus, if those firmly grounded in knowledge did not fully comprehend these signs, omitting this description would make the reproach stronger than including it.

This becomes clear from another consideration, which also constitutes evidence concerning this question: Allah reproaches those who deviate for their ignorance and evil intent. They pursue the ambiguous passages, seeking their interpretation, although none knows their interpretation except those firmly grounded in knowledge—and they are not among them. They seek discord, not knowledge and truth. This resembles His statement, exalted is He:

“Had Allah known any good in them, He would have made them hear. But even if He had made them hear, they would have turned away in aversion.”

Here, “He would have made them hear” means enabling them to understand the Quran. That is, had Allah known that they had good intentions and were receptive to the truth, He would have enabled them to understand the Quran. Yet even if He had enabled them to understand it, they would have turned away from faith and acceptance of the truth because of their evil intent. Thus, they are ignorant and wrongdoing. Likewise, those whose hearts are inclined to deviation are