That verse does not mention the word ‘to understand’ it mentions the word ‘to recall’. I do try to expand my knowledge and I can state that your stance does help. If you want to know what I do regarding my understanding is not simply to accept, but if I do not understand something I try my hardest to find out why before I begin to create my own reasonings or dismiss certain things because I cannot be asked to accept a given reason. I place the authority of hadith and ijma of scholars above my intellect but I do not switch off my intellect. Had that been the case then you would have defeated me long ago.
You have failed to show in your references that ambiguous statements in the Qur’an are not to be considered halaal or haraam or only explicit haraam or halaal statements in the Qur’an can be considered as so
Not in any of the verses have you shown this. Instead you have consistently shown that we are not to make halaal or haraam what Allah (SWT) has not made halaal or haraam. But you have failed to show how you have arrived at your conclusion about ‘ambiguous’ statements. Remember I am not arguing over what can be made haram or halal. I am arguing over why you cannot accept the hadith as definitive of Allah (SWT) telling us through Muhammad (SAW) that such and such is halal or haram based on the given hadith as specifics for a given statement that is not contradicted in the Qur’an. Why do you demand it to be non-ambiguous? Where are you getting this demand from?
The reply you gave for ‘Allah (SWT) and RasoolAllah (SAW) know best’ is not sufficient, the clear reason why they said this is because though they had an idea of what certain things meant they were humble enough to listen to the superior explanation.
The last reference you give is out of context on the following levels:
The prophet did not make the said thing haram, he (SAW) only saught it, i.e. he was hesitant.
To say that Muhammad (SAW) was forbade for making something haraam does not give you the right to blanket this verse across all statements made by him (SAW) on issues of haram and halaal, or else you are accusing him (SAW) of ignoring this command from Allah (SWT). Remember, this verse is regarding a very specific issue. So when we see such a statement in an authentic hadith then we can regard it as Divinely inspired and instructed by Allah (SWT) any contextual clarification from Muhammad (SAW) regarding halaal and haraam should thus be adhered to.