And one of them is the outward meaning of the verse as...

And one of them is the outward meaning of the verse as understood by the common people, but its other meanings are only known to God and those who are grounded in knowledge. The fourth application of ta’wīl regarding the Holy Qur’an is to trace the roots or origins of words which do not belong in the category of word or meaning but rather in the objective or external realities [of the word].

Therefore, ta‘wīl is not exclusive to the allegorical verses ( mutashābihāt ) and it is applicable to all verses of the Qur’an.[^11] Of the [different] meanings [of ta’wīl mentioned above], what is intended or meant in theological discourses is the second meaning. Mu‘tazilī, Imāmī, a number of Ash‘arī and Māturdī theologicans and those of other schools of theology have adopted this method. Contrary to what is sometimes thought of, this method is not exclusive to the contemporary theologians.

In fact, it had also proponents among the predecessors ( salaf ). As Shahristānī has said, “Some of the predecessors would interpret ( ta’wīl ) such attributes by taking into account the compatibility of a word with its meaning.”[^12] Rashīd Riḍā has also said, “The leading salaf scholars would sometimes interpret the outward verses ( ẓawāhir ).”[^13] Theological Foundation of Ta’wīl As a method of exegesis, ta’wīl has a special theological foundation, and that is, in elucidating its sublime teachings, the Holy Qur’an uses parables so as to make these teachings understandable to the common people.