LessonsDefiniteness of the Subject with al-: Reference, Essence and Exhaustive InclusionQuiz

Literal universality (الاستغراق الحقيقي) encompasses all members to whom the term genuinely applies. Customary universality (الاستغراق العرفي) encompasses all members of a set bounded by the convention, place, occupation, or other contextual field. Each is comprehensive within its intended domain, but the domains differ.

TypeRelevant domainIllustration
Literal (حقيقي)All actual members of a classEvery member of the kind
Customary (عرفي)A complete contextually bounded setAll craftsmen of a given town or court

“Every” may therefore mean universal coverage of a kind or complete coverage of a contextually restricted class.

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Literal universality and contextually bounded universality

Definiteness of the Subject with al-: Reference, Essence and Exhaustive Inclusion

Literal universality (الاستغراق الحقيقي) encompasses all members to whom the term genuinely applies. Customary universality (الاستغراق العرفي) encompasses all members of a set bounded by the convention, place, occupation, or other contextual field. Each is comprehensive within its intended domain, but the domains differ.

TypeRelevant domainIllustration
Literal (حقيقي)All actual members of a classEvery member of the kind
Customary (عرفي)A complete contextually bounded setAll craftsmen of a given town or court

“Every” may therefore mean universal coverage of a kind or complete coverage of a contextually restricted class.