Definition: Matters mentioned in the Quran without explicit naming — whether persons, places, times, or quantities. Quranic scholars have dedicated independent chapters to this topic.
Types:
- Unspecified persons: "A man came from the far end of the city" (28:20) — said to be Hizqil (Ezekiel) or Sham'un.
- Unspecified places: "The city whose people were wrongdoers" (4:75) — said to be Mecca before the conquest.
- Unspecified times: "A numbered few days" (2:184) — days not specified by an explicit count.
- Unspecified persons (companions): "His companion said to him" (18:37) — no name mentioned.
Wisdom of vagueness:
- Directing focus to the meaning and lesson, not the individual.
- Generalizing the verse to encompass multiple situations.
- Encouraging reflection and inquiry.
Key works: Al-Suhali, "Al-Mubhamat"; Ibn Hisham, "Al-Iklil fi al-Mutashabih."
Question: What are al-Mubhamat in the Quran? Give two types with examples.
Answer: Things mentioned without explicit names. E.g.: "a man from the far end of the city" — unspecified person; "the city whose people were wrongdoers" — unspecified place.