ʾIlm-i-Usúl,[1] or the Exegesis of the Qurán, is a science, some knowledge of which is absolutely necessary to enable the Christian controversialist to meet a Muhammadan opponent. It is used by the Muslim divine to explain away many apparent or real contradictions which exist in the Qurán, and it is also available for a similar purpose when rightly used by the Christian in explanation of the exegesis of his own sacred books.
The words (alfáz) of the Qurán are of four classes:—Kháss, ʾAmm, Mushtarak, and Muawwal.
(1) Kháss, Words used in a special sense. These are of three kinds:—Khusús-ul-jins, Special genus; Khusús-un-nauʾ, Special species; Khusús-ul-ʾain, Special individuality.
(2) ʾAmm, Collective or common, which embrace many individuals or things.
(3) Mushtarak, Complex words which have several significations; e.g. ʾain, a word which
- ↑ ʾIlm-i-Usúl embraces both the exegesis of the Qurán and Hadís. The most authoritative works on the ʾIlm-i-Usúl of the Qurán are Syuty's Itqán (Sprenger's edition), and the Manár-ul-Usúl, and its commentary the Núr-ul-Anwár.
