The comparison of al-Zamakhshari and Ebussuud Efendi's approaches to mutashābih verses

The issue of mutashabih verses is one of the topics that arise in the context of comprehending the Qur'an. The discourse that the meanings of mutashabih expressions are like "unknowable" or "unfathomable" due to similarity, opacity and multi-probability seem to contradict each other with the discourse that the Qur'an is a clear and understandable book. In particular, giving false meanings to ambiguous expressions such as "God's hand" or "God's face" or interpreting such expressions contrary to the Qur'an and Sunnah poses grave theological problems. So much so that the problem of mutashabih has caused serious discussions and deep divergences among the sects. In this study, we tried to examine the approaches of Zamakhshari and Ebussuud Efendi, the leading exegetes of Mu'tazila and Ahl al-Sunnah, to mutashabih verses in a comparative way. As a result, most of the disagreements between the two exegetes in the interpretation of mutashabih verses are verbal; in fact, we realized that there are similarities rather than differences of opinion on this matter. In addition, we saw that although Zamakhshari was a Mu'tazilite, he partially adopted the views of Ahl al-Sunnah in the interpretation of some verses. In this respect, we have concluded that it is not correct to criticize or completely marginalize Zamakhshari, which has become a tradition in the Ahl al-Sunnah community, at least in the context of mutashabih verses. On the contrary, it is possible to say that he was close to Ahl al-Sunnah on this issue and that his views could be benefited. Keywords: Zamakhshari, Ebussuud, Muhkam, Mutashabih, Ta'wil