The necessity of the present study arises from the longstanding challenge of understanding the mutashabih (ambiguous) verses and precisely defining the limits of their interpretability within different epistemic contexts—an issue that has always been a point of contention among exegetes and theologians. The main objective of this article is to present a new framework for understanding Qur’anic ambiguity, emphasizing a phenomenological approach and examining its relation to the concepts of “Umm al-Kitāb” and the “boundaries of interpretation.” The research method is analytical-exegetical, utilizing authentic Islamic sources as well as contemporary phenomenological discussions (especially Gadamer’s hermeneutics).



The most important finding of this study shows that ambiguity in the mutashabih verses is not a deficiency but a deliberate and purposeful function meant to provoke reflection, deepen knowledge, and sustain the dynamism of ijtihād. The interpretability of these verses, while preserving their foundational meaning and the authority of the Umm al-Kitāb, does not imply absolutism in understanding; rather, it is governed by specific parameters based on the purpose of the text, linguistic indications, and the teachings of the Infallibles (a).