ABSTRACT
If a substantial part of the Qur∞ån can only be interpreted in an ‘approximate’ fashion, then it is possible to argue that an approximate understanding of the Qur∞ån as a whole is valid. In this chapter, I will explore three text types in the Qur∞ån. In relation to these text types it is difficult to suggest that one can simply arrive at a meaning and be certain that the meaning so arrived at would be the ‘true’ and ‘final’ meaning. What some of these texts refer to is not easily accessible to the human mind, and indeed in some cases is simply beyond human experience. In some cases, the literal meaning of the text is not intended at all. What these texts show is that a degree of indeterminacy exists in relation to the meaning of all forms of the Qur∞ånic texts.
