A question about polysemous terms that carry more than one meaning?
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The questioner : If someone were to say... polysemous terms
The Shaykh : Yes
The questioner : ... ؟
The Shaykh : Yes, the answer is simple. We say that for every polysemous term that has multiple meanings, the context specifies the single intended meaning. It is not possible for "istawa" (to rise above) to mean one thing in one context and another in a different context, nor is it possible for it to mean "intended," because it is followed by the preposition "ala" (upon). Just as if you said, "I have a coin of gold," and "I have a flowing spring," and "I have a strong eye," the word "ayn" (eye/spring/coin) has a distinct meaning in each instance. It is not possible that the first "ayn" means the second "ayn," or that the second "ayn" means the third "ayn." Thus, the context determines the meaning of a polysemous term.
The Shaykh : Yes
The questioner : ... ؟
The Shaykh : Yes, the answer is simple. We say that for every polysemous term that has multiple meanings, the context specifies the single intended meaning. It is not possible for "istawa" (to rise above) to mean one thing in one context and another in a different context, nor is it possible for it to mean "intended," because it is followed by the preposition "ala" (upon). Just as if you said, "I have a coin of gold," and "I have a flowing spring," and "I have a strong eye," the word "ayn" (eye/spring/coin) has a distinct meaning in each instance. It is not possible that the first "ayn" means the second "ayn," or that the second "ayn" means the third "ayn." Thus, the context determines the meaning of a polysemous term.