Page 205 - Tafsir of surat at tawba repentance

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instance, if one were ordered to feed ten poor people, that expression would be
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khaass.
It should be noted that certain ‘aamm expressions are more comprehensive
than others. For instance, the category of men is a smaller category than the
category of human beings, which includes it. The category of human beings, in
turn, is smaller than the category of mammals, which is smaller than the category
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of animals, and so on. When an ‘aamm expression is qualified or restricted by
another more limited ‘aamm expression or a khaass expression, the process is
called takhsees, and the limiting expression is called the mukhassis of the broader
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category.
The following six examples contain the most commonly used general
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expressions which can be found in the Qur’aan:

1. Kull (all, every, or each): This word could be translated into English in a
variety of ways, depending on the context. An example of this word’s usage can
be found in Allaah’s statements in the Qur’aan:

( ÏNöqpRùQ$# èps)ͬ!#sŒ <§øÿtR ‘@ä. )

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“Every (kull) soul will taste death.”

( &äóÓx« Èe@à2 ß,Î=»yz ª!$# )

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“Allaah is the Creator of all (kull) things.”

These two verses confirm the fact that all things have a beginning point at which
they were created and every living soul must come to an end of its existence.

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Principles of Islamic Jurisprudence, pp. 104-5.
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See Sharh al-Kawkab al-Muneer, vol. 3, p. 105.
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See Principles of Islamic Jurisprudence, p. 406.
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See al-Itqaan, vol. 3, pp. 43-4.
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Soorah Aal ‘Imraan (3):185.
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Soorah az-Zumar (39):62.

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