Page 204 - Tafsir of surat at tawba repentance

© Islamic Online University Usool at-Tafseer

15

_________________________

LANGUAGE OF THE QUR’AAN

I which they are designed like achieve. In have certain general and goals, the
specific
laws,
and
principles,
laws
slaamic
all
goals
to
achieve
these
to
order
laws address society under a given set of circumstances. Sometimes the laws
are directed to all people of the society under all circumstances, sometimes to all
people under specific circumstances, at other times to particular people in special
situations, and at other times to particular people in all situations. Hence, the
language by which these laws are delivered has to accurately distinguish between
the various cases in order to avoid any confusion and misinterpretation. The
Arabic language in which the Qur’aan was conveyed has a number of words,
phrases and grammatical constructions which express the various shades of
meanings necessary to clarify the intent of the laws. Some of these expressions
will be briefly studied in this chapter in order to give the reader a glimpse of some
of the modes of expression.

‘AAMM (GENERAL) AND KHAASS (SPECIFIC)

The ‘aamm could be defined as an expression which is completely general in
whatever it refers to when used literally. 52 However, ‘aamm expressions may
refer to specific things when they are used figuratively. The khaass, on the other
hand, is used for a word which is applied to a limited number of things; for

52
An alternate definition is “a word which applies to many things, not limited in number, and
includes everything to which it is applicable.” (Principles of Islamic Jurisprudence, p. 104.)

http://www.islamiconlineuniversity.com 27