Mahiyyah (essence) is the nature by which a thing is identified for purposes of logical classification. The question “ma huwa?” asks what something is in its nature.
Ask what a human, a horse and a sheep are: the shared answer is animal. Ask what Zayd and Amr are: the answer is human.
Both are answers to what-is-it questions. But the first covers things of different specific natures, whereas the second covers individuals of the same specific nature.
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The Five Predicables: Genus, Species and Hierarchy of Genera
Mahiyyah (essence) is the nature by which a thing is identified for purposes of logical classification. The question “ma huwa?” asks what something is in its nature.
Ask what a human, a horse and a sheep are: the shared answer is animal. Ask what Zayd and Amr are: the answer is human.
Both are answers to what-is-it questions. But the first covers things of different specific natures, whereas the second covers individuals of the same specific nature.