Apostate prophet wonders; what are the mutashabihaat?

In answer to the video "The Mysterious Letters in the Quran"

The mutashabihat literally means "look alike". They have a range of understandings that are similar but not entirely the same. They are verses open to several understandings because of the subject treated. All of these similar understandings are correct so long as they agree with the rules of the language and most of all, the muhkamat verses. The muhkamat, contrary to the mutashaabihat only allow one interpretation. They are firm and decisive verses. 

It is nothing strange for a communication relating knowledge of higher realities outside the reach of current human perception, to address the people in such manner. Previous scriptures are repleat with such verses, and all previous prophets were inspired with that mode of expression that gives way to several interpretations

Hos12:10"And I spoke to the prophets, and I increased their visions; and to the prophets I assumed likenesses".

It was part of Allah's plan to include such verses in order to reveal those

"in whose hearts there is perversity..seeking to mislead and seeking to give it (their own) interpretation".

It is a device out of many, that God has put in place in this world, so as to expose the perversity of the heart. A blatant example of people failing the test is that of trinitarian christians, typically looking to proof text their doctrines within verses open to a wide variety of interpretations, in disregard of the muhkamat/decisive verses of their own books. To pass this test, humanity has been explained that "none knows its reality/ta'wil except Allah". Ta'wil doesnt refer to the meaning, but the reality, the ultimate conclusion of the verses. God is saying only He knows their true reality, obviously since they are referring to things beyond the realm of human perception and experience. For instance anyone can understand the meaning of the mutashabihat speaking of the angels, heaven or hell but none knows their true manifestation other than God, since these things are still beyond any experience or human imagination. 

It is no coincidence that 3:7 belongs to sura Aele-Imran which relates the story of Mary and Jesus, as well as of Zachariah, all of whom belonged to the House of Imran. As already noted the deification of Jesus by his later followers is one of the most outstanding instances of how people might interpret revelation in a manner that disagrees with the true nature and purpose of the divine message. The realm of the unseen will always retain an aspect that is beyond our grasp. This does not however justify one building doctrines majoritarily based on those passages, while disregarding the unambiguous guiding principles that are easily found throughout the book, even within those speculative passages. For instance, if Jesus gave life, it was by Allah's permission. If Mary conceived of him in an unusual way, it was by Allah's will. Even while there still remains a "grey area" as to the "how" these things occurred, this does not compromise Allah's unity since they are only possible by His permission, having no intrinsinc power 

5:17"Certainly they disbelieve who say: Surely, Allah-- He is the Messiah, son of Marium. Say: Who then could control anything as against Allah when He wished to destroy the Messiah son of Marium and his mother and all those on the earth? And Allah's is the kingdom of the heavens and the earth and what is between them; He creates what He pleases; and Allah has power over all things"

But to the ones bent on denying the truth in pursuit of their paradigms, they will still give primary importance to the speculative parts through which the decisive information is reinterpreted, exactly as the Quran depicts them in 3:7. Sura aal imran, following the argumentation against Jesus' divinity, issues an impactful challenge 3:61 that came to be known as al mubahala. Will those whose salvation depends on piecing together obscure passages of their books be willing to come forth and call for God's curse upon the liars? The verse mentions "the liars". Only those present at the impreciation among the husbands, wives and sons, who are making the false claim, will merit God's curse.

The miraculous circumstances of Jesus' birth, his life, and until he was taken by Allah provide a fertile ground for speculation and deviation, as soon as one loses sight of the decisive verses and principles through which one is to interpret those passages.

Historically the context in which the mubahala occured is when Islam had become an undeniable power knocking at the doors of the neighboring empires of the time. The prophet had to preemptively protect the borders of the growing Islamic state either by conquering new territories or by forming alliances with the tribes and nations bordering those kingdoms. Among them the Christians of Najran with whom he expected to find common spiritual grounds. After sending them a letter inviting them to Islam, they came back to Mecca with a delegation to inquire of his message. They were received at his mosque where they were allowed to pray and reside. Then began the theological debate which ended with the challenge of mubahala. The Christians declined it and prefered agreeing on an amount of Jizya in exchange of keeping their religion and forming an alliance of common interest with the Muslim state. Had they been convinced of the truth they were arguing for, they wouldnt have hesitated taking the oath of the mubahala. But since truth did not matter to them, only the luxurious life their position as clergymen confered them in their society, they preferred not taking any risks. So they bargained the truth against keeping their position of power. Like the elite of all times who clinged to their ways when a prophet came to them, they knowingly maintained a falsehood in place, corrupting the laymen, because it benefited them. The Quran thus ends the argument with a powerful and pertinent statement 

3:62-3"This is indeed the truth of the matter. There is no deity save God. Indeed, it is God Who is the Mighty, the Wise. And if they turn away, God has full knowledge of those who spread corruption".