The Zhaahir is the Lafzh (wording) which its linguistic meaning comes to the mind by just reading its form or hearing it, without the need to rely upon an external Daleel (evidence) to understand it. This is whilst this meaning does not represent the original intended meaning in respect to the legislation of the text.

Example:

Allah (swt) said:

It comes to the mind from the Zhaahir (apparentness) of the Alfaazh (wordings) of the Aayah that the trade is Halaal and that the Ribaa (usury/interest) is Haraam. This is the Zhaahir (apparent) meaning because its understanding from the two words ‘Ahalla’ and ‘Harrama’ comes to the mind without the need for an external Qareenah (connotation or linking indication).

This meaning, however, is not intended originally from the context (Siyaaq) of the Noble Aayah. That is because that which is originally intended from it is the negation of the resemblance between the trade and the Ribaa in the Hukm Ash-Shar’iy as the Aayah came in response to those who said: ‘Verily, the trade is like the Ribaa’.

Another example:

Allah (swt) said:

The Zhaahir (what is apparent) of the text of the Aayah guides to the permissibility of marrying more than one wife. This meaning is not intended in origin from the context of the Aayah but rather what is originally intended from its Siyaaq (context) is the permissibility to combine a number of marriages to the limit of four where they are secured from injustice occuring amongst them.

The Siffaat (attributes/characteristics) of the Hukm of the Zhaahir:

1 – It is open to Ta’weel (interpretation) so that the Lafzh is diverted from its Zhaahir meaning and another meaning is intended from it. This diversion can happen in different ways:

A – That it is specified in the case where it had been general. So in respect to the Aayah:

It is ‘Aamm (general) applying to every trade whilst it has been specified by Ahaadeeth that have forbidden the trade of the Bedouin to the resident (in town) and the trade of Malaaqeeh and the trade of Al-Hisaah (by the process of throwing stones).

B – That it restricts that which is Mutlaq (unrestricted). This is like that which has come in the Qawl of Allah Ta’Aalaa as the Kaffaarah (expiation) for Azh-Zhihaar (saying to the wife that you are like my mother’s back):

The Lafzh (wording) ‘two months’ is Mutlaq (unrestricted) and this Mutlaq has been restricted by the Lafzh ‘consecutive’ so that what is required is to fast two consecutive months and not just two months. C – And it can be understood in accordance to the Majaaz (metaphorical meaning) and not the Haqeeqah (literal) like is found in relation to the Qawl of Allah (swt):

Al-Imaam Abu Haneefah (rh) understood this in accordance to the Majaaz (metaphorical meaning) and so he understood ‘Laamastum’ to mean that you have had intercourse and from that he deduced that the touching by the hand does not invalidate the Wudoo’.

2 – It is obligatory to work with its Zhaahir (apparent) meaning as long as a Daleel has not been established which dictates that the Zhaahir (meaning) is moved away from. That is because the original position is to not move the Lafzh (worded expression) away from its Zhaahir (meaning) unless there is a Daleel that dictates that. An example of that is the Qawl of Allah Ta’Aalaa:

This ‘Aamm (general address) has been specified by the types of trading that the Shaari’ (Legislator) has made Haraam like the prohibition of trading with Al-Khamr or by the process of throwing stones (Al-Hisaah) amongst other trading that the Shaari’ has forbidden. These do not fall under the ‘Umoom (generality) of the Halaal trading that has been taken from the Zhaahir (apparent) of the Aayah.

3 – That the Zhaahir is open to accepting An-Naskh (abrogation) at the time of the Messenger of Allah (saw) because there is no Naskh (abrogation) after the Messenger (saw).