The Adillah (evidences) of specifying the general are divided into two categories:

Adillah Takhsees Muttasilah (connecting evidences of specification) and Adillah Takhsees Munfasalah (separated evidences of specification).

At-Takhsees Al-Muttasil is that which is not independent in itself but rather the Takhsees (specification) is mentioned along with the ‘Aamm (general) within the same Nass (text). Its meaning is attached to the general Lafzh and it is a part of the speech that contains the ‘Aamm Lafzh.

It has four types which are: Al-Istithnaa’ (exemption or exception), Ash-Shart (the condition), As-Siffah (adjective/description/attribute) and Al-Ghaayah (end point).

The Takhsees by way of Al-Istithnaa’ (exception) means excluding or exempting that which follows the exemption from that which was before it.

Example:

Allah (swt) said:

So the Lafzh (wording) ‘Al-Insaan’ (man/human) is a Lafzh ‘Aamm because it is Mufrad Mu’arraf (defined) with ‘ال ‘Al-Jinsiyah and consequently it encompasses every human being. Allah (swt) has informed us that every human being is a loser and then excluded or exempted from those people who are losers Afraad (individual elements) that will not be losers and they are those who have believed and acted righteously (in accordance to His commands and prohibitions) … This then represents an example of the Takhsees (specification) that takes place by the Istithnaa’ (exception/exemption).

- It is a condition for the validity of the Istithnaa’ (exemption) for it be Muttasil (connected) to the Mustathnaa Minhu (the matter being exempted from) without there being a (more than normal) separation between them both. As for those who say that the Istithnaa’ (exception) is valid and even if the time of a month had passed (i.e. great distance) then this is rejected and has no Daleel to support it.

- The Istithnaa’ (exception) returns to the nearest Mustathnaa Minhu (matter which the exception is being made from). Allah Ta’Aalaa said:

So his ‘Imra’ah’ (wife) was exempted from those who will be saved but not exempted from the family of Lut and she will be amongst those who perish. - It is permitted for the Mustathnaa (exempted matter) to be from a different Jins (kind/type) than the Mustathnaa Minhu (matter the exemption is being made from). An example of that is found in the Qawl of Allah Ta’Aalaa:

And that is because Iblees was not from amongst the Malaa’ikah (angels) as Allah (swt) said:

Iblees is therefore not from the Malaa’ikah but rather from the Jinn. - When the Istithnaa’ (exception) comes after sentences that are connected or joined (Ma’toof) to one another, then the Istithnaa’ returns to all (that has been mentioned) as long as there is no Daleel to specify other than that. Some have held the view that the Istithnaa’ (exception) returns back to the last sentence (or statement) alone unless the Daleel indicates generality or that it covers all of them. An example of this is the Qawl of Allah Ta’Aalaa

And those who accuse chaste women, and produce not four witnesses, flog them with eighty stripes, and reject their testimony forever, they indeed are the Fasiqun (liars, rebellious, disobedient to Allah). Except those who repent thereafter and do righteous deeds, (for such) verily, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful (An-Noor 4-5).

The Istithnaa’ (exception) here returns to the Faasiqeen alone and not to the flogging or acceptance of testimony, according to the preponderant (or stronger) opinion.

If the ‘Aamm (general) is connected or linked to a Siffah (attribute/description/adjective) then it is specified by it and all other than it is excluded from it. This is like in the statement of the Messenger of Allah (saw):

His statement ‘Saa’imah’ (free grazing) is a Siffah (adjective) that has been connected to the ‘Aamm (general) which is the Lafzh ‘Ibil’ (camel) that follows the word ‘Kull’ (every). So it covers all of the camels however due to being connected or linked to a Siffah, the wording ‘Free grazing’, all camels that are not free grazing are taken out from this generality and these are the camels which are fed with fodder. It therefore indicates that there is no Zakaah upon the foddered camels but rather Zakaah is only due upon those camels which graze freely, live and feed off the pastures.

The condition for the validity of specifying by the Siffah (description/attribute) is that it is connected to the Mawsoof (described thing/matter) or to the connecting Hukm.

Example:

His Qawl (swt):

Here the Lafzh ‘Nisaa’ikum’ (your women) is ‘Aamm because it is a plural that is added to a pronoun (Idaafah). This ‘Aamm (general) has then been specified by the Siffah (adjective/description) that is mentioned following it ‘To whom you have gone in’. Therefore, the Tahreem (prohibition) of marrying the step-daughter is restricted to the daughters of the wives that had been entered into while it does not encompass and cover the women which has been contracted (in marriage) but the marriage has yet to have been consummated.

The Adawaat (particles) of the Shart (condition) are numerous and they include:

Allah Ta’Aalaa said:

The Shart (condition) has specified the inheritance of the husband with half of what his wife leaves behind if she does not leave behind her, following her death, a child, whether male or female.

The inheritance of half is therefore restricted to the case of the non-existence of a child. If however she has a child then the inheritance would differ and the husband would then get a quarter of what is left (At-Tarkah). The Shart, as such, excludes from the speech that which if the Shart had not been there, would have remained within it. This is like the statement: “Akrim Al-Mujaahideen In Fatahoo Al-Hisn” (Honour the Mujaahideen if they conquer the fortress). If it had not been in the Seeghah (form) of ‘إن) ‘if) then the Ikraam (honouring) would have been general for all of the Mujaahideen. However, the insertion of ‘إن ‘takes out those who do not conquer the fortress.

And the Messenger of Allah (saw) said:

This condition makes it permissible for the man to look at any part of the body of the woman that he is capable of seeing if he wishes to engage her for marriage and so this Shart (condition) has made an exception to the prohibition of the man looking at the ‘Awrah of the women in this case when it is for the purpose of engaging her in marriage. The Hadeeth has therefore specified the ‘Umoom (generality) of the Hurmah (prohibition) of the man looking at the ‘Awrah of the woman to other than those who wish to engage her.

The forms of the Ghaayah are two Lafzhs (wordings) which are:

ِ( Ilaa and Hattaa/to/until). If any of these two worded expressions are included within the general speech, then what comes after them is excluded. The Hukm of what follows must be contrary to the Hukm that was before it.

Example:

Allah (swt) said:

The Lafzh ‘Aidiyakum’ (hands/forearms) is a Lafzh ‘Aamm and includes the ‘Yad’ from the shoulders until the fingers. However, the ‘Aamm has been specified by His Qawl: “Ilaa-l-Maraafiq” (to (or until) the elbows). Consequently, what is required and has been requested is to wash from the hand that which is from the fingers to the elbows. In that way ‘Ilaa’ (To/until), which is a Harf (particle of) Al-Ghaayah, has excluded that which comes after that, from the washing. However, as an extra point of note, in respect to this issue specifically, the Qaa’idah Ash-Shar’iyah (Shar’iyah principle) that states: ‘Maa Laa Yatimm ul-Waajib Illaa Bihi FaHuwa Waajib’ (That which the Waajib is not fulfilled except with it is a Waajib) has made the washing of a bit or part of the elbows Waajib and that is in order to ensure the washing of the Yad (arm) to the elbows is fulfilled. Another example:

Allah Ta’Aalaa said:

The Lafzh ‘Alladheena’ (those) establishes al-‘Umoom (generality) because the Ism Mawsool (relative pronoun) indicates a Jam’un (plural) and Allah has commanded us to fight those who do not believe in Allah in a general manner. This was then followed by the particle (‘Adaat) of Al-Ghaayah ‘Hattaa’ and so it excluded from those whom it is obligatory to fight and they are those who give the Jizyah and submit to the authority of Islam. Those, who do that, are not fought as a result of their giving of the Jizyah.

Consequently, the Takhsees of the ‘Aamm, which is ‘those who don’t believe in Allah’, has occurred by way of the Ghaayah and its form ‘Hattaa’ and so what comes after the ‘Hattaa’ (until) is contrary, in respect to its Hukm, to what is before ‘Hattaa’ (until). This is where that which came after it was taken out of that which was before it in respect to the Hukm, in the case where what was before it was ‘Aamm (general).