The words «تقاة» and «وتقية» both mean the same, that is, to protect. The meaning of «صر‏» is «برد» , that is, coldness or coolness. The meaning of «شفا حفرة» is the edge of a pit, like the edge of an unlined well. «تبوئ‏» means you used to designate the places for the army, meaning to make encampments or trenches. «مسومين» and «مسوم» refer to something that has a sign on it, for example, wool or any other sign. «ربيون‏» is the plural, its singular is «ربي» , meaning a person of Allah. «تحسونهم‏» means you uproot them completely by killing. «غزا‏» is the plural of the word «غازى» , meaning one who strives (mujahid). «سنكتب‏» means we will remember. «نزلا‏» means reward, and it is also possible that the word «نزلا‏» is in the passive participle sense, meaning sent down by Allah, as is said «أنزلته‏» I sent it down. Mujahid said «والخيل المسومة» means strong, good horses, and Sa'id bin Jubair said «حصورا‏» refers to a person who is not inclined towards women at all. Ikrimah said «من فورهم‏» means on the day of Badr, with anger and zeal. Mujahid said «يخرج الحى‏» means the sperm is lifeless, and from it a living being is created. «إبكار» ‏‏‏‏ means early morning. The meaning of «عشي» is the time from when the sun declines until it sets, which is called «عشي» .

Mujahid said that by «محكمات» are meant the verses regarding lawful and unlawful matters. The meaning of «وأخر متشابهات» is that other verses resemble each other; one confirms the other, like these verses: «وما يضل به إلا الفاسقين» , «ويجعل الرجس على الذين لا يعقلون» , and «والذين اهتدوا زادهم هدى» . In these three verses, there is no mention of lawful or unlawful matters, so they are considered mutashabih (ambiguous). The meaning of «زيغ» is doubt. In «ابتغاء الفتنة» , by "fitnah" is meant following the mutashabihat (ambiguous verses) and seeking their interpretation. «والراسخون» means that those who are firmly grounded in knowledge say, "We believe in it; all of it is from our Lord."

Narrated `Aisha: Allah's Messenger 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 Allah's Messenger 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."