A Quran-Alone Methodology for Muhkamat Verses, and Science-Alone for the Mutashabihat

By Naseer Ahmed, New Age Islam 11 April 2025 Rethinking Quranic Interpretation One Concept at a Time, Grounded in Quranic Logic and Verified Science ----- Abstract This article presents a robust and logically consistent methodology for interpreting the Quran, distinguishing clearly between its Muhkamat (clear and decisive verses) and Mutashabihat (allegorical or descriptive verses). It proposes that all religious guidance (Deen) be derived solely from the Quran's internal logic and consistency—free of inherited assumptions or external traditions—and that all allegorical verses be interpreted and validated using only established scientific or historical facts. This dual framework aims to foster a universal and falsifiable understanding of the Quran that is both spiritually authentic and intellectually sound. Readers are invited to explore this living methodology interactively and contribute to its ongoing refinement. Introduction In our ongoing effort to make sense of divine revelation in the modern world, we are often confronted with inherited interpretations that obscure rather than illuminate the Quran’s message. Many Muslims—concerned with both authenticity and rational coherence—are returning to the Quran itself, seeking guidance not through secondary sources but from the Quran's own language, structure, and consistency. The methodology proposed in this article is the result of such a search. It operates on two core principles: 1. For the Quran’s Muhkamat verses, which define the religion (Deen) and moral guidance, we use only the Quran’s own intra-textual logic, consistency, and usage of language across verses. 2. For the Mutashabihat verses, which refer to the natural world, creation, psychology, and history, interpretation must be confirmed through established scientific or historical facts. This approach offers not just a way to understand individual verses but a systematic lens to interpret the Quran one concept or keyword at a time, across all its appearances and contextual variations. Understanding the Muhkamat and Mutashabihat • - Muhkamat: Clear laws, guidance, and values. • - Mutashabihat: Not ambiguous—just ahead of their time. Why “Disbeliever” Is a Mistranslation of “Kafir” • - Conceptual vs. Faith-Based Definitions • - Quranic usage across 2:6, 109, 98:6, 9:1–5, etc. · Chat: Meaning of Kafir Analysis – Complete ChatGPT Conversation Logical Truths as Foundations: Why This Matters • - What is a logical truth? A logical truth is a conclusion that necessarily follows from a set of true premises through sound reasoning. If the premises are indeed true, then the conclusion must also be true—by definition. • How Quranic consistency validates truth by definition: In Quranic interpretation, the meaning of a keyword is derived by examining every verse in which the word appears. A valid interpretation maintains consistency across all occurrences without contradicting the meaning in any verse. Such a meaning is, therefore, a logically derived truth within the Quranic framework. Scientific Validation of Mutashabihat Verses • - Examples from cosmology, biology, psychology - Read the following articles: 1. The Quranic Concept of Nafs and Modern Psychology 2. The Fairy Tale of Alam-e-Arwah 3. Understanding Quranic Days as Phases of Divine Processes 4. The Universe as a Scroll: A Qur'anic Metaphor in Light of Modern Cosmology 5. The Creation of the Universe In Six Stages 6. Science Converges In Stages With The Quranic Description Of The Creation Of The Universe • - How science has made once-unclear verses intelligible – Read the following articles: 1. Using ChatGPT To Confirm the Meaning of “Seven Heavens” 2. The Enigmatic Verses of the Quran Application and Benefits of This Framework • - Clarifies confusion caused by tradition-heavy readings • - Enables falsifiability, academic debate, and refinement Invitation to the Reader • - Engage with the methodology interactively • - Test conclusions using the referenced ChatGPT link • - Contribute by identifying mistranslations or inconsistencies Call to Action This article is not an endpoint—it is the launch of a collaborative, ongoing exegesis project that aims to cover the entire Quran using this method. You are invited to: - Use the linked chat resource to test and verify every claim yourself. - Post verses where "Kafir" and related terms may have been mistranslated or misunderstood. - Adapt and cite this framework in your own writing—provided you engage with and accept its premises. Together, we can develop a Quranic interpretation that is coherent, rational, and independent of inherited dogma—light upon light. --- A frequent contributor to NewAgeIslam.com, Naseer Ahmed is an Engineering graduate from IIT Kanpur and is an independent IT consultant after having served in both the Public and Private sector in responsible positions for over three decades. He has spent years studying Quran in-depth and made seminal contributions to its interpretation. URL: https://www.newageislam.com/debating-islam/quran-methodology-muhkamat-verses-science-mutashabihat/d/135129 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism