Considering that the prime meaning of umm is the source...

Considering that the prime meaning of umm is the source, referent, and refuge of objects, the term umm al-kitāb means that the referent (to understand) mutashābih verses are the muhkam ones. In this verse, muhkam and mutashābih are opposites. Then, the verse speaks of people whose hearts have been afflicted with doubt and deviation from Truth and follow mutashābih verses because they seek discord and ‘interpretation’.

This shows that a mutashābih verse is one the meaning and intent of which cannot be understood by just listening to it; rather, there is doubt between various meanings until muhkam verses are referred to and its meaning is made clear. Hence, a mutashābih verse becomes muhkam by muhkam verses however a muhkam verse is muhkam in and of itself.

For instance, in verse five of Sūrat Tā Hā (20:5) it is stated: ﴿ الرَّحْمَنُ عَلَى الْعَرْشِ اسْتَوَى ﴾ “The Rahmān (Beneficent) is established upon the Throne.” A person who hears this verse will not understand it.

However, if, for instance, they refer to verse eleven of Sūrat al-Shawrā’ (42:11), they will realize that the meaning of establishment upon the Throne is that God is predominant over all of existence not that there is a place where He rests which would necessitate that He be material—which is impossible for God: ﴿ ... لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْءٌ...

﴾ “There is nothing like Him…” Another example can be found in Sūrat al-Qiyāmah (75:23): ﴿ إِلَى رَبِّهَا نَاظِرَةٌ ﴾ “Looking towards their Lord.” And Sūrat al-An‘ām (6:103): ﴿ لاَ تُدْرِكُهُ الأَبْصَارُ وَهُوَ يُدْرِكُ الأَبْصَارَ ... ﴾ “Eyes do not perceive Him and He perceives the eyes.” By referring the first verse to the second, we understand that the ‘looking’ indicated in the first verse is not physical. This is also correct for abrogative [nāsikh] and abrogated [mansūkh] verses.

When we refer the abrogated verse to the abrogative one we realize that the abrogated verse comprised a precept that was only applicable until the nāsikh was revealed.[^6] Mutashābih verses indicate a specific intent A person who carefully studies the whole Qur’an will without doubt not even find one verse lacking signification and explanation. There is no verse that does not indicate its signification.

This signification may either be a single one that a person who is familiar with the discourse will understand or several which may be mistaken with each other.

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