For example, the masses can conceive of the reality of divine disposal over the universe in the form of a king seated on the throne of his power holding sway over his dominions. It is for this reason that [the Qur'an] chooses [to use] a metonymy in the verse: "the Most Gracious, established on the throne of His almightiness."(20:5) Since the feelings of the mass of people are thus, it is imperative according to eloquence and guidance that their understanding is taken into account, and their feelings are respected, and their intellects are deferred to, and allowance is made for their ideas. Like someone who speaks with a child has to come down to his level so that he can get the child to understand in a friendly manner. The literary devices and styles of the Qur'an (al-asâlîb al-Qur'âniyya) in such places, that show regard for the mass of people are called "divine condescension to human minds (al-tanazzulât al-ilâhiyya ilâ 'uqûl al-bashar)." It is to put [people's] minds at ease. For this reason it sets the forms [depicted by] the allegorical verses before the people's eyes like telescopes. Haven't you seen how most of the eloquent literati use figures of speech (al-isti'ârât) to depict subtle meanings or to portray disparate ideas. Thus, the allegorical verses are figures of speech of an abstruse (ghâmid) kind for they depict abstruse truths.

As for there being obscure (mushkil) expressions, this is due either to the subtlety and profundity of what they signify, and the conciseness and loftiness of the style, and the obscurities of the Qur'an are of this sort; or to the ambiguity of the words and tangled expressions, which is contrary to eloquence and the Qur'an is exempt from this. So now, you sceptic! Isn't it pure eloquence to so easily bring close to the common people's understanding these profound truths which are so distant from everyone? For eloquence is to speak conformably to any given situation. Dwell on this!