A Semantic Study of Ijmāl and Tabyīn of the Holy Quran with a Narrative Approach

The dispute over mujmal (unclear/comprehensive) and mubayyan (clear) as two attributes of the Holy Quran has been continuing and considerable, and the lack of decent understanding of it has caused objections regarding the existence of inherent ambiguity or defects in the word of God. This necessitates studying and understanding the basis and function of the mujmal and mubayyan in the Quran. By examining the terminology and studying the course of formation and evolution of the term mujmal, from its literal meaning to its contrast with the term mubayyan, and with the help of religious teachings and the semantic principles, we introduce the correct understanding of ijmāl, tabyīn (clarification) and tafsīr (interpretation) of the Holy Quran. As a result, ijmāl in the Quran simply means the conciseness and briefness of the word of God despite the completeness of its meanings, not its being unclear or incomplete. Also, tafsīr means discovering the meaning of the verses by the addressee or clarifying the meaning of the verses for the listeners, and tabyīn is explaining the meaning for the listeners who does not understand the meaning of the words due to the transcendence of the meaning or the lack of its situational context. For the first time, by distinguishing between the specific addressees and the subsequent listeners of each sort of verses, we could show that the brief and concise verses of the Quran were originally clear, complete and plain for their specific addressees, but the same verses may appear unclear to the subsequent listeners and lead them to refer to and ask the real scholars of the Quran (P.B.U.T.); for they can, by their comprehensive knowledge, interpret and explain the case, instance and meaning of all mujmal verses of the Quran for the listeners.