Islam and Slavery — Page 72
72 commandments which have either been given in alternative forms in view of the changing conditions or which, having been made flexible, admit of new but valid interpretations. under different circumstances. It is to this fact that the. Quran refers when it says:“God has revealed this Book in a way that some of its verses are Muhkam or rigid, that is they are fundamental and apply alike to all cases; while there are other verses which are Mutashaibhat, that is, they are of flexibe nature, assuming different but mutually resembling forms under different conditions; in other words, they are capable of bearing different interpretations to suit different cases, none of the interpretations being contradictory to the others. " (¹) (1) 3:9.