The practical status of a literal sense varies. It may be impossible to carry out, physically possible but abandoned by ordinary usage, or still regularly used.
«الحقيقة على ثلاثة أنواع»
Literal usage falls into three categories.
1. Haqiqah muta‘adhdhirah: literal fulfilment is impossible.
2. Haqiqah mahjurah: literal fulfilment is possible, but its use is abandoned in the relevant convention.
3. Haqiqah musta‘malah: the literal sense remains in current use.
These categories determine when a figurative interpretation comes into play.