Zahir: an immediately evident meaning; some alternative intention remains conceivable.
Nass: the discourse is directed to that point; interpretation and specification remain possible in principle.
Mufassar: the speaker's own clarification rules out those possibilities; naskh was theoretically possible during revelation.
Muhkam: no interpretation, specification or abrogation is admissible.
Sequence: zahir → nass → mufassar → muhkam. The force of clarity increases from left to right. However, all four carry an obligation to respond to their meanings; being lower in this ranking does not mean that zahir is legally irrelevant.