How do some verses of the Quran guide us to understand some other verses of the Quran?

Dear Brother / Sister,

The Quran and metaphor

Metaphor means the use of a word outside its real meaning. Metaphors exist in almost all languages. The Quran is full of metaphorical expressions. It is very clear but it is astonishing that some people whose mother tongue is Arabic do not accept it.

A blind scholar who claimed that there was no metaphor in the Quran was reminded the following verse:

وَمَنْ كَانَ ف۪ى هٰذِه۪ٓ اَعْمٰى فَهُوَ فِى اْلاٰخِرَةِ اَعْمٰى وَاَضَلُّ سَب۪يلاً

“But those who were blind here (in this world), will be blind in the hereafter, and most astray from the Path.” (al-Isra, 72)

They said to him, “If there is no metaphor in the Quran, you will be blind in the hereafter according to the decree of this verse.” Thereupon, he had to say, “Yes, there is metaphor in the Quran.”

The verse above states that those who do not see the truth in this world will be blind in the hereafter as a penalty. As a matter of fact, it is stated in another verse that the real blindness is not the blindness of the eye but the blindness of the heart. (al-Hajj, 46.) Those who are spiritually blind in this world will be revived materially blind in the other realm. Let us refer to the Quran about the issue:

“But whosoever turns away from My Message, verily for him is a life narrowed down, and We shall raise him up blind on the Day of Judgment." He will say: "O my Lord! why hast Thou raised me up blind, while I had sight (before)?" (Allah) will say: "Thus didst Thou, when Our Signs came unto thee, disregard them: so wilt thou, this day, be disregarded.” (Taha, 124-126)

As it can be seen, there is another metaphor in the sentence “so wilt thou, this day, be disregarded (forgotten)” at the end of the verse. For, as the verse “My Lord never errs, nor forgets” (Taha, 52) indicates, Allah is free from forgetting.

Thus, some verses of the Quran guide us to understand some other verses. (Subhi Salih, p. 299.) For, the entire Quran displays a wholeness.

Questions on Islam