Al-Waadih Fee Usool ul-Fiqh by Muhammad Hussein Abdullah

The Alfaazh (worded expressions) in relation to their clarity in addition to the Dalaalaat Al-Alfaazh (indications of the wordings), that we have discussed in the previous discussion, all fall under the heading of ‘Al-Mantooq and Al-Mafhoom’.

Its definition is: It is the meaning that is understood from the Dalaalah (indication) of the Lafzh definitely in the place of the expression or utterance (Mahall An-Nutq).

Allah (swt) said:

The Mantooq of this Nass (text) indicates the Tahreem (prohibition) of At-Ta’feef (showing displeasure/disdain) towards the two parents. The Mantooq is therefore the meaning that is understood from what is expressed (the Mantooq) of the Lafzh without diverting from it to the necessary meaning that comes to the mind (from it). That is like the prohibition of striking the parents is understood from the previous text however that understanding is not called the Mantooq of the Nass (text).

The areas that fall under the category of the Mantooq are:

A – The Alfaazh in relation to their clarity like: Azh-Zhaahir, An-Nass, Al-Mufassar and Al-Muhkam.

B – The Alfaazh in respect to their lack of clarity like: Al-Khafiy, Al-Mushkil, Al-Mujmal and Al-Mutashaabih.

C – ‘Ibaarat un-Nass “Dalaalat ul-Ibaarah” (Indication of the expression).

All of these are understood from the Mantooq of the Nass i.e. from the Alfaazh of the text directly.

Its definition is: The meaning that is understood from the Lafzh in other than the place of its utterance or expression (Mahall An-Nutq). As such the Dalaalat ul-Mafhoom is the necessary meaning that comes to the mind from the Lafzh. Its Dalaalah (indication) is therefore not by the explicitness of its form or placing like the Mantooq. Rather, it is taken from the meaning of the meaning of the Lafzh and not from the Lafzh directly. That is unlike the Dalaalat ul-Mantooq (expressed indication) which is the meaning of the Lafzh (itself) and not the meaning of the meaning of the Lafzh.

Example:

Allah (swt) said:

The Mantooq of this Aayah, as we explained above, indicates and guides to the prohibition of saying ‘Uff’ to the parents. As for the Mafhoom of the Aayah then it indicates and guides to the prohibition (Tahreem) of striking, insulting and harming the parents. This understanding (Mafhoom) is guided to by the meaning that comes to the mind for the Aayah whilst the Mantooq of the ‘Aayah (i.e. its expressed wordings) does not indicate that. Consequently, the prohibition of At-Ta’feef (showing disdain or displeasure) which is the meaning of the Alfaazh indicates and guides to another (secondary or indirect) meaning and that is the Tahreem (prohibition) of bringing any harm to the parents like hitting or insulting etc… Consequently, the Mafhoom is that which the mind understands from the meaning that has resulted from the Mantooq and even if that meaning is not present within the Alfaazh (wordings) of the Nass (text). So the wording ‘harm’ like ‘hitting’ and ‘insulting’ are not present within the text but rather it has been indicated to by the Tahreem (prohibition) of At-Ta’teef (saying Uff).

Another example: The Messenger of Allah (saw) said:

The Mantooq of the Hadeeth indicates that it is obligatory upon the Muslim to return the staff of his brother if he has taken it from him.

The Mafhoom of the Hadeeth indicates that it is obligatory upon the Muslim to return anything or any item that he has taken from his brother like a car, an animal, book or any thing else.

Even though these things have not been mentioned within the Lafzh of the Hadeeth, their meaning has nevertheless been indicated to and understood from it.