What is meant by "muhkam" and "mutashabih" verses in the Quran?

The Quran itself introduces this distinction: "It is He who has sent down to you the Book; in it are verses that are precise (muhkamat) — they are the foundation of the Book — and others that are unspecific (mutashabihat)... those in whose hearts is deviation follow that which is unspecific, seeking discord and seeking an interpretation [suitable to them]. And no one knows its true interpretation except Allah" (3:7). Muhkam verses are those with clear, direct, singular meaning — most legal rulings, core beliefs, and moral instructions fall into this category, and they form the interpretive foundation for the rest of the Quran. Mutashabih verses are those whose full meaning is less immediately certain, either because their wording allows multiple readings, they describe matters beyond ordinary human experience such as Allah's attributes or details of the unseen, or they use symbolic and figurative language. Classical scholars taught that mutashabih verses should always be understood in light of the muhkam ones rather than in isolation, and warned against those who cherry-pick ambiguous verses to manufacture confusion or unfounded doctrines. This principle has guided sound methodology in tafsir and theology throughout Islamic history, encouraging humility about matters Allah has left deliberately unspecified.

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