Al-Qarāfī’s Self-Rectifications in the Chapter on Technical Terminology, as Reflected in his Sharḥ Tanqīḥ Al-Fuṣūl: An Inductive-Analytical Study 10.35781/1637-000-154-001

Abstract

This study seeks to collect al-Qarāfī’s self-corrections in the chapter on technical terminology as presented in his work Sharḥ Tanqīḥ al-Fuṣūl, and to examine them through an analytical approach. The researcher adopts an inductive-analytical methodology. The study comprises an introduction and thirteen sections. The introduction provides a brief account of Imām al-Qarāfī and his book Sharḥ Tanqīḥ al-Fuṣūl. The sections address his self-corrections concerning the following issues: (1) the definition of aṣl (legal foundation); (2) the categories of waḍʿ (linguistic assignment); (3) the stipulation of relational correspondence in metaphor (majāz); (4) the definition of the equivocal term (mushakkik); (5) the inclusion of the implied meaning of the effective cause (ʿillah) and attribute (ṣifah) within the category of mafhum al-mukhālafah (argumentum a contrario); (6) the definitions of literal and metaphorical usage (ḥaqīqah and majāz); (7) the definition of restriction (ḥaṣr); (8) the categories of restriction; (9) realities that pertain exclusively to the future; (10) the definition of the legal ruling (ḥukm sharʿī); (11) the definition of performance (adāʾ); (12) the definition of legal concession (rukhsah); and (13) the doctrine of moral valuation (good and evil) according to the Muʿtazilah. The study concludes by emphasizing the importance of attending to a scholar’s self-corrections, as the author is most aware of his own intended meanings. It further demonstrates that al-Qarāfī’s self-corrections in the chapter on terminology vary in nature, encompassing the rectification of error, the completion of deficiency, and the resolution of ambiguities or objections. Some of his self-corrections are also shown to be grounded in theological considerations. The researcher recommends giving greater scholarly attention to Sharḥ Tanqīḥ al-Fuṣūl, as it is highly deserving of study and analysis. He further recommends examining al-Qarāfī’s self-corrections in the remaining chapters of legal theory, as well as studying the questions and objections he raises in Sharḥ al-Tanqīḥ, given the substantial scholarly benefits they contain. Keywords: Self-corrections; al-Qarāfī; Sharḥ Tanqīḥ al-Fuṣūl.