What is the difference between the general (‘amm) and the absolute (muthlaq)?
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The Shaykh : What is the difference between the general (‘amm) and the absolute (muthlaq) in the principles of jurisprudence? The difference between them in their essence is that the general encompasses all its individuals by way of generality and comprehensiveness, whereas the absolute covers all its individuals by way of substitution, not by way of comprehensiveness and generality. Do you understand?
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Substitution means that one of them is sufficient. For example, if I say, “Free a slave,” this is absolute, so whichever slave you free, the compliance is achieved. Do you understand? Generality, for example, if I say to you, “Free the slaves,” then you must free all the slaves; one is not sufficient. This is the difference in their very essence.
If I say, for example, “Do not honor a student,” it includes all students, meaning do not honor any student. And if I say, “Honor a student,” one is sufficient. So the former’s generality is comprehensiveness, and the latter’s generality is substitution. This is the difference. All right, ah, four remain now.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Substitution means that one of them is sufficient. For example, if I say, “Free a slave,” this is absolute, so whichever slave you free, the compliance is achieved. Do you understand? Generality, for example, if I say to you, “Free the slaves,” then you must free all the slaves; one is not sufficient. This is the difference in their very essence.
If I say, for example, “Do not honor a student,” it includes all students, meaning do not honor any student. And if I say, “Honor a student,” one is sufficient. So the former’s generality is comprehensiveness, and the latter’s generality is substitution. This is the difference. All right, ah, four remain now.