Is it linguistically permissible to interpret the word "ṭibāqan" in Surat Al-Mulk, Ayah 3, as "identical" or "similar" instead of "layers one above the other"?
Al-Raghib and Al-Azhari, in their discussion of the root "ṭ-b-q" (طبق), mentioned that tashabuh (تشابه - resemblance) within it means making two things exactly alike. A ṭabaq (طبق) is a group of people equal to their counterparts, and people are ṭabaqāt (طبقات - layers/classes). It is said, "ṭābaqtuhu ‘alā kadhā" (طابقته على كذا - I made him agree to such and such), "taṭābaqū" (تطابقوا - they agreed), and "aṭbaqū ‘alayhi" (أطبقوا عليه - they unanimously agreed on it). From this, we have: an answer that yuṭābiq (يطابق - matches) the question, and al-muṭābaqah (المطابقة - matching) in walking, like the walk of one who is shackled. The author of Lisan al-Arab also mentioned that the ṭibq (طبْق) of everything is what resembles it, and the plural is aṭbāq (أطباق). And he said, "ṭābaqahu muṭābaqatan wa ṭibāqan" (طابقه مطابقة وطباقًا - he matched him exactly), and "taṭābaqa al-shay’ān" (تطابق الشيئان - the two things matched/were equal), and al-muṭābaqah (المطابقة) is agreement.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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