Concise Introduction to Principles of Islamic Jurisprudence Based on al-Waraqat by Imam al-Juwayni [Part 9]
A specific utterance is the opposite of a general utterance.
Linguistically, the specific (al-khas, which is derived from at-takhsis in the Arabic language) means to single out and set apart. It refers to singling out and setting apart some individuals of the general utterance. In other words, applying the rule to some individuals of the general and setting aside the remaining part. For example, proper nouns that refer to people, demonstrative pronouns, e. g. this man is sincere, the word ‘this’ refers to a specific person. I have twenty books, twenty refers to a specific number. When we refer to all men, we say ar-rijal. If someone says, ‘Honor all men except Zaid, this means excluding Zaid from being honored.
Types of Specific Utterance
1) Connected Specification:
The general utterance and the specific utterance exist in the same text. For example, honor the men except for Zaid. The sentence will be incomplete if we say, ‘honor the men except.’ The word ‘Zaid must be mentioned to complete the meaning of the sentence.
2) Disconnected Specification:
The general utterance is in one text and the specific utterance is in another text. There are two independent sentences. One includes a general utterance and the other includes a specific utterance. Then the meaning of the general utterance is understood based on the meaning of the specific utterance. For example, ‘Honor the men.’ Then after some time, the speaker says, ‘Do not honor Zaid.’ Thus, the understood meaning will be to honor the men except for Zaid.
Connected Specification includes exception, e.g. this endowment is for my children except the rich, specification by a condition, e.g. if Zaid comes, then honor him, and specification by an attribute, e.g. honor the diligent students.
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