As for the Qur’aan containing Alfaazh (worded expressions) from other languages, then these Alfaazh have been arabized and they were used by the Arabs before the descent of the Qur’aan. These include words like: المشكاة, السجيل, القسطاص, القرطاس amongst others These Alfaazh and those similar to them became Arabic after the Arabs arabized them i.e. after they framed them in accordance to the workings of the Arabic language and its letters. They were then used by some of their poets before the revelation of the Qur’aan Al-Kareem. For example Tarfah Bin Al-‘Abd used the word ‘Qirtaas’ (القرطاس (to describe his horse in a line of poetry in the case where the word is of Greek orgin ‘Kuartees’ with the meaning of paper or leaves.
It is therefore essential for Usool ul-Fiqh to include within it some of the studies related to the Arabic language and its categories or disciplines and particularly in regards to that which is directly related to the Istinbaat (deduction) of the Ahkaam Ash-Shar’iyah from the texts of the Kitaab and the Sunnah. As for the remainder of the areas of Arabic study that go into the subject at length, in depth and great detail, then these are the remit and area of speciality of the scholars of language like the ‘Ulamaa of An-Nahw (grammar) and Al-Balaaghah (eloquence/metaphorical usage) in addition to the Fuqahaa’ of the language.
In this chapter we will attempt to present the study areas of the Arabic language that the old or classical books of Usool ul-Fiqh mentioned and dealt with as they are. Then, following that, we will present our opinion and explain that which we believe to be correct in regards to this matter. We have also added a subject area related to the areas of the Arabic language for those who wish to examine and look into the subject area and benefit further.
The ’Ulamaa of Usool ul-Fiqh divided the Alfaazh (worded expressions) of the Kitaab and the Sunnah into two categories:
1 – In respect to their clarity: Azh-Zhaahir, An-Nass, Al-Mufassar and Al-Muhkam.
2 – In respect to their lack of clarity: Al-Khafiy, Al-Mushkil, Al-Mujmal and Al-Mutashaabih.