Caution: Translations of Quran and Ḥadīth may lead to possible misapplications and misinterpretations. This site is intended for students of sacred knowledge that are proficient in comprehending classical Arabic and have a strong foundation in Islamic sciences. Also note that religious injunctions rely on several aspects beyond what one may glean through reading individual aḥādīth.
quran:3:7

It is He who has sent down to you, ˹O Muhammad˺, the Book; in it are verses ˹that are˺ precise - they are the foundation of the Book - and others unspecific. As for those in whose hearts is deviation ˹from truth˺, they will follow that of it which is unspecific, seeking discord and seeking an interpretation ˹suitable to them˺. And no one knows its ˹true˺ interpretation except Allah. But those firm in knowledge say, "We believe in it. All ˹of it˺ is from our Lord." And no one will be reminded except those of understanding.  

He it is Who revealed to you the Book, wherein are verses ˹that are˺ clear, lucid in proof, forming the Mother Book, the original basis for rulings, and others allegorical, whose meanings are not known, such as the opening verses of some sūras. He ˹God˺ refers to the whole ˹Qur’ān˺ as: 1) ‘clear’ ˹muhkam˺ where He says ˹A Book˺ whose verses have been made clear ˹Q. 11:1˺, meaning that it contains no imperfections; and as 2) ‘allegorical’ ˹mutashābih˺, where He says A Book consimilar ˹Q. 39:23˺, meaning that its parts resemble each other in terms of beauty and veracity. As for those in whose hearts is deviation, inclination away from truth, they follow the allegorical part, desiring sedition, among the ignorant of them, throwing them into specious arguments and confusion, and desiring its interpretation, its explanation, and none knows its interpretation, its explanation, save God, Him alone. And those firmly rooted, established and capable, in knowledge (al-rāsikhūna fī’l-‘ilm is the subject, the predicate of which is ˹what follows˺) say, ‘We believe in it, the allegorical part, that it is from God, and we do not know its meaning; all, of the clear and the allegorical, is from our Lord’; yet none remembers (yadhdhakkar, the initial tā’ ˹of yatadhakkar˺ has been assimilated with the dhāl), that is, none is admonished, but people of pith, possessors of intellect, who, when they see those following that ˹allegorical part only˺, also say:
القرآن:٣:٧

هُوَ الَّذِي أَنْزَلَ عَلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ مِنْهُ آيَاتٌ مُحْكَمَاتٌ هُنَّ أُمُّ الْكِتَابِ وَأُخَرُ مُتَشَابِهَاتٌ ۖ فَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ زَيْغٌ فَيَتَّبِعُونَ مَا تَشَابَهَ مِنْهُ ابْتِغَاءَ الْفِتْنَةِ وَابْتِغَاءَ تَأْوِيلِهِ ۗ وَمَا يَعْلَمُ تَأْوِيلَهُ إِلَّا اللَّهُ ۗ وَالرَّاسِخُونَ فِي الْعِلْمِ يَقُولُونَ آمَنَّا بِهِ كُلٌّ مِنْ عِنْدِ رَبِّنَا ۗ وَمَا يَذَّكَّرُ إِلَّا أُولُو الْأَلْبَابِ  

(هو الذي أنزل عليك الكتاب منه آيات محكمات) واضحات الدلالة (هن أم الكتاب) أصله المعتمد عليه في الأحكام (و أخر متشابهات) لا تفهم معانيها كأوائل السور وجعله كله محكما في قوله "" أحكمت آياته "" بمعنى أنه ليس فيه عيب، ومتشابهًا في قوله (كتابا متشابهًا) بمعنى أنه يشبه بعضه بعضا في الحسن والصدق (فأما الذين في قلوبهم زيغ) ميل عن الحق (فيتبعون ما تشابه منه ابتغاء) طلب (الفتنة) لجهالهم بوقوعهم في الشبهات واللبس (وابتغاء تأويله) تفسيره (وما يعلم تأويله) تفسيره (إلا الله) وحده (والراسخون) الثابتون المتمكنون (في العلم) مبتدأ خبره (يقولون آمنا به) أي بالمتشابه أنه من عند الله ولا نعلم معناه (كل) من المحكم والمتشابه (من عند ربنا وما يذكر) بادغام التاء في الأصل في الذال أي يتعظ (إلا أولوا الألباب) أصحاب العقول ويقولون أيضا إذا رأوا من يتبعه.

See similar narrations below:

Collected by Bukhārī, Muslim, Aḥmad
bukhari:4547ʿAbdullāh b. Maslamah > Yazīd b. Ibrāhīm al-Tustarī > Ibn Abū Mulaykah > al-Qāsim b. Muḥammad > ʿĀʾishah

Messenger of Allah ﷺ recited the Verse:-- "It is He who has sent down to you the Book. In it are Verses that are entirely clear, they are the foundation of the Book, others not entirely clear. So as for those in whose hearts there is a deviation (from the Truth ). follow thereof that is not entirely clear seeking affliction and searching for its hidden meanings; but no one knows its hidden meanings but Allah. And those who are firmly grounded in knowledge say: "We believe in it (i.e. in the Qur'an) the whole of it (i.e. its clear and unclear Verses) are from our Lord. And none receive admonition except men of understanding." (3.7) Then Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "If you see those who follow thereof that is not entirely clear, then they are those whom Allah has named [as having deviation (from the Truth)] 'So beware of them."  

البخاري:٤٥٤٧حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مَسْلَمَةَ حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ التُّسْتَرِيُّ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي مُلَيْكَةَ عَنِ الْقَاسِمِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَائِشَةَ ؓ قَالَتْ

تَلاَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ هَذِهِ الآيَةَ {هُوَ الَّذِي أَنْزَلَ عَلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ مِنْهُ آيَاتٌ مُحْكَمَاتٌ هُنَّ أُمُّ الْكِتَابِ وَأُخَرُ مُتَشَابِهَاتٌ فَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ زَيْغٌ فَيَتَّبِعُونَ مَا تَشَابَهَ مِنْهُ ابْتِغَاءَ الْفِتْنَةِ وَابْتِغَاءَ تَأْوِيلِهِ} إِلَى قَوْلِهِ {أُولُو الأَلْبَابِ} قَالَتْ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَإِذَا رَأَيْتَ الَّذِينَ يَتَّبِعُونَ مَا تَشَابَهَ مِنْهُ فَأُولَئِكَ الَّذِينَ سَمَّى اللَّهُ فَاحْذَرُوهُمْ  

muslim:2665ʿAbdullāh b. Maslamah b. Qaʿnab > Yazīd b. Ibrāhīm al-Tustarī > ʿAbdullāh b. Abū Mulaykah > al-Qāsim b. Muḥammad > ʿĀʾishah

"He it is Who revealed to thee (Muhammad) the Book (the Qur'an) wherein there are clear revelations-these are the substance of the Book and others are allegorical (verses). And as for those who have a yearning for error they go after the allegorical verses seeking (to cause) dissension, by seeking to explain them. And none knows their implications but Allah, and those who are sound in knowledge say: We affirm our faith in everything which is from our Lord. It is only the persons of understanding who really heed" (Al-Qur'an 3:7). 'A'isha (further) reported that Messenger of Allah ﷺ said (in connection with these verses): When you see such verses, avoid them, for it is they whom Allah has pointed out (in the mentioned verses).  

مسلم:٢٦٦٥حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مَسْلَمَةَ بْنِ قَعْنَبٍ حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ التُّسْتَرِيُّ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَبِي مُلَيْكَةَ عَنِ الْقَاسِمِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَائِشَةَ قَالَتْ

تَلاَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ { هُوَ الَّذِي أَنْزَلَ عَلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ مِنْهُ آيَاتٌ مُحْكَمَاتٌ هُنَّ أُمُّ الْكِتَابِ وَأُخَرُ مُتَشَابِهَاتٌ فَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ زَيْغٌ فَيَتَّبِعُونَ مَا تَشَابَهَ مِنْهُ ابْتِغَاءَ الْفِتْنَةِ وَابْتِغَاءَ تَأْوِيلِهِ وَمَا يَعْلَمُ تَأْوِيلَهُ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَالرَّاسِخُونَ فِي الْعِلْمِ يَقُولُونَ آمَنَّا بِهِ كُلٌّ مِنْ عِنْدِ رَبِّنَا وَمَا يَذَّكَّرُ إِلاَّ أُولُو الأَلْبَابِ} قَالَتْ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِذَا رَأَيْتُمُ الَّذِينَ يَتَّبِعُونَ مَا تَشَابَهَ مِنْهُ فَأُولَئِكَ الَّذِينَ سَمَّى اللَّهُ فَاحْذَرُوهُمْ  

ahmad:26197ʿAbd al-Raḥman b. Mahdī > Yazīd b. Ibrāhīm > Ibn Abū Mulaykah > al-Qāsim b. Muḥammad > ʿĀʾishah

"He it is Who revealed to thee (Muhammad) the Book (the Qur'an) wherein there are clear revelations-these are the substance of the Book and others are allegorical (verses). And as for those who have a yearning for error they go after the allegorical verses seeking (to cause) dissension, by seeking to explain them. And none knows their implications but Allah, and those who are sound in knowledge say: We affirm our faith in everything which is from our Lord. It is only the persons of understanding who really heed" (Al-Qur'an 3:7). 'A'isha (further) reported that Messenger of Allah ﷺ said (in connection with these verses): When you see such verses, avoid them, for it is they whom Allah has pointed out (in the mentioned verses). (Using translation from Muslim 2665)   

أحمد:٢٦١٩٧حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ مَهْدِيٍّ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي مُلَيْكَةَ عَنِ الْقَاسِمِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَائِشَةَ

أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ تَلَا هَذِهِ الْآيَةَ {هُوَ الَّذِي أَنْزَلَ عَلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ مِنْهُ آيَاتٌ مُحْكَمَاتٌ هُنَّ أُمُّ الْكِتَابِ وَأُخَرُ مُتَشَابِهَاتٌ فَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ زَيْغٌ فَيَتَّبِعُونَ مَا تَشَابَهَ مِنْهُ ابْتِغَاءَ الْفِتْنَةِ وَابْتِغَاءَ تَأْوِيلِهِ وَمَا يَعْلَمُ تَأْوِيلَهُ إِلَّا اللهُ} [آل عمران 7] فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ فَإِذَا رَأَيْتُمُ الَّذِينَ يَتَّبِعُونَ مَا تَشَابَهَ مِنْهُ فَأُولَئِكَ الَّذِينَ سَمَّى اللهُ أَوْ فَهُمْ فَاحْذَرُوهُمْ  

ahmad:24210Ismāʿīl > Ayyūb > ʿAbdullāh b. Abū Mulaykah > ʿĀʾishah

"He it is Who revealed to thee (Muhammad) the Book (the Qur'an) wherein there are clear revelations-these are the substance of the Book and others are allegorical (verses). And as for those who have a yearning for error they go after the allegorical verses seeking (to cause) dissension, by seeking to explain them. And none knows their implications but Allah, and those who are sound in knowledge say: We affirm our faith in everything which is from our Lord. It is only the persons of understanding who really heed" (Al-Qur'an 3:7). 'A'isha (further) reported that Messenger of Allah ﷺ said (in connection with these verses): When you see such verses, avoid them, for it is they whom Allah has pointed out (in the mentioned verses). (Using translation from Muslim 2665)   

أحمد:٢٤٢١٠حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا أَيُّوبُ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ أَبِي مُلَيْكَةَ عَنْ عَائِشَةَ قَالَتْ

قَرَأَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ {هُوَ الَّذِي أَنْزَلَ عَلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ مِنْهُ آيَاتٌ مُحْكَمَاتٌ هُنَّ أُمُّ الْكِتَابِ وَأُخَرُ مُتَشَابِهَاتٌ فَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ زَيْغٌ فَيَتَّبِعُونَ مَا تَشَابَهَ مِنْهُ ابْتِغَاءَ الْفِتْنَةِ وَابْتِغَاءَ تَأْوِيلِهِ وَمَا يَعْلَمُ تَأْوِيلَهُ إِلَّا اللهُ وَالرَّاسِخُونَ فِي الْعِلْمِ يَقُولُونَ آمَنَّا بِهِ كُلٌّ مِنْ عِنْدِ رَبِّنَا وَمَا يَذَّكَّرُ إِلَّا أُولُو الْأَلْبَابِ} فَإِذَا رَأَيْتُمُ الَّذِينَ يُجَادِلُونَ فِيهِ فَهُمُ الَّذِينَ عَنَى الله ﷻ فَاحْذَرُوهُمْ