Synonymous Terms for Mushkil in Qur'anic Exegesis A Lexical and Applied Study

Abstract

Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, Who revealed the Qur'an as guidance, mercy, and clarification for mankind. Peace and blessings be upon Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, who faithfully conveyed the Divine Message, and upon his family and Companions.

To proceed:

Knowledge of the Arabic language and its sciences is essential for understanding the interpretation of the Holy Qur'an, the noblest of Islamic sciences. Throughout Islamic history, scholars devoted great attention to Qur'anic exegesis, establishing its principles and highlighting the linguistic and rhetorical inimitability of the Qur'an.

Among the important disciplines of Qur'anic studies is Mushkil al-Qur'an (Problematic Passages of the Qur'an), which examines verses whose meanings may appear difficult or seemingly contradictory at first glance. This discipline aims to resolve such apparent difficulties and clarify the intended meanings through the principles of Arabic linguistics, Qur'anic exegesis, and the sciences of the Qur'an.

However, mushkil is not the only term used by scholars in this context. Other related terms, such as mutashābih (ambiguous), mujmal (general), khafī (obscure), and mubham (indefinite), frequently appear in the literature. While some scholars treat these terms as synonymous, others distinguish between them. Accordingly, this study examines these concepts to clarify their technical meanings, their interrelationships, and the extent to which they correspond to or differ from the concept of mushkil.