LessonsʿIlm al-Bayān and the Foundations of Tashbīh: Signification, Terms and ResemblanceQuiz

In muṭābaqah (المطابقة), a term signifies the complete meaning for which it is established. In the standard logical analysis, “human” signifies the kind characterized as a rational living being; taking that meaning as a whole is correspondence.

Likewise, “book” can signify a book according to its complete ordinary sense. “Whole” here concerns the composition of the stipulated meaning; it does not mean all individual books in existence.

If one extracts the constituent “living being” from the concept of human, one has moved toward taḍammun. The same word can be approached through distinct semantic relations depending on whether the entire concept, an internal part, or an associated implication is being considered.

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Muṭābaqah and the whole intended sense

ʿIlm al-Bayān and the Foundations of Tashbīh: Signification, Terms and Resemblance

In muṭābaqah (المطابقة), a term signifies the complete meaning for which it is established. In the standard logical analysis, “human” signifies the kind characterized as a rational living being; taking that meaning as a whole is correspondence.

Likewise, “book” can signify a book according to its complete ordinary sense. “Whole” here concerns the composition of the stipulated meaning; it does not mean all individual books in existence.

If one extracts the constituent “living being” from the concept of human, one has moved toward taḍammun. The same word can be approached through distinct semantic relations depending on whether the entire concept, an internal part, or an associated implication is being considered.