The difference between specific and general Islām

  • Thread starter عبد الواحد الصقلي
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عبد الواحد الصقلي

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بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
ʿĀmm and khāṣṣ , often translated as “general” and “specific,” respectively, are a key pair of technical terms in the Islamic and Arabic sciences. They are most intensively discussed in writings on Islamic legal hermeneutics (uṣūl al-fiqh), at the intersection of law (fiqh), theology (kalām), grammar (naḥw), and Qurʾānic exegesis (tafsīr). Jurists used these terms to denote the breadth of application of legal rules (aḥkām) by deeming expressions, particularly in the Qurʾān and ḥadīth, as either ʿāmm or khāṣṣ, in which case such expressions exhibit the qualities of general. The meaning of al-Islām al-ʿāmm (the general Islām) is the religion of all the prophets – may peace be upon them. This religion is Tawḥīd which is knowing, hating and leaving the act of širk, and witnessing that whoever does not know širk, or commits this evil act is not upon the religion of the prophets. The Prophet – may peace and blessings be upon him – said, "The prophets are paternal brothers; their mothers are different, but their religion is one". (Ṣaḥīḥ) Al-Islām al-khāṣṣ (the specific Islām) is the belief in the prophet of a current time. Allāh said in sūrat l-māidah (The Table spread with Food), "To each of you We prescribed a law and a method." And Allāh knows best.
 
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Abu Juwairiya

Junior Member
Alhamdolilah, some useful technical terms and interesting information. We would benefit from more articles like this.
 
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