Al-A‘rāf 7:161

The issue

This verse states “and say ‘hittatun and enter the gate adoring....’” However, the words

seem to have been rearranged. Elsewhere in the Qur’ān, the order is stated this way:

“and enter the gate worshipping and say ‘hittatun....” (Q 2.58). (The word hittatun is an

ambiguous word. Muslim scholars suggest the following possible meanings: asking for

forgiveness, humility, or prostrating, to name a few).

Al-Zamakhsharī comments on this discrepancy: “It is all right if the two expressions

are different, as long as there is no contradiction”.

Yes, there should be no contradiction. But which of the two terms is more correct

according to the linguistic miracle of the Qur’ān? Regardless of which answer is the

correct one, we are still left with a more eloquent verse and a less eloquent one.

Question: If God is the author of both of these verses, why is there a less eloquent verse still in the Qur’ān?.