Restriction must not be inferred from a marker in isolation. A disciplined reading follows these steps:
1. Identify negation, exception, innamā, or ghayr.
2. Determine the grammatical role of the focused term.
3. Reconstruct the suitable range of alternatives.
4. Separate what is denied from what is affirmed.
5. Use context to decide whether the aim is ifrād, qalb, or taʿyīn.
مَا جَاءَ إِلَّا رَاكِبًا
He arrived only while riding.
Here identifying “possible manners” as the relevant general class prevents mistaking the manner restriction for an agent restriction.