Al-khaass (the Specific)
Its definition:
Al-Khaass is the Lafzh that has been provided or utilised to indicate to a single Fard (element) related to the person, or a single Fard related to the kind (Naw’u) or to a number of Afraad which are restricted or limited (i.e. specified).
It therefore has three types:
- Khaass Shakhsiy (specific person) like the nouns which are names like: Zaid, Muhammad and Baghdaad.
- Khaass Naw’iy (specific type/kind) like man, human and woman.
- Or the Khaass which indicates to a number of individual elements (Afraad) but does not indicate Al-Istighraaq (i.e. complete absorption or taking in/encompassing) of all of the Afraad like the ‘Aamm.
The Hukm of the Khaass:
The Khaass (specific) indicates and guides to the meaning that has been set for it by a Dalaalah Qat’iyah (definite indication) i.e. without the possibility arising for other than it to share with it or the possibility to specify it (further). This is like His Qawl (swt):
But whoever cannot find [a way or afford it] - then a fast of three days [is required] (Al-Maa’idah 89).
That is because the Lafzh ‘three days’ is from the Khaass (specific) Alfaazh (worded expressions) and so its meaning indicates three days without any increase or reduction.