Discussion of the conditions for restricting a general statement to a specific case.

The Shaykh : We have learned from the legal principles indicated by the Sunnah and adopted by the scholars of knowledge that a general statement must retain its indication of generality, as the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) taught us this. When he (peace and blessings be upon him) was asked about donkeys and their reward, after he had spoken about the reward of horses tied for jihad in the path of Allah, they said, “O Messenger of Allah, what about donkeys?” He said, “This clear verse was revealed to me regarding them: This is an argument based on what? On generality. If that is the case, then it is obligatory in the Book and the Sunnah that their indication of generality remains, unless a specific restrictor comes. Know that it is not possible for a general term to come without a specific restrictor being present for it, either connected or disconnected, either for a reason or without a reason. This is necessary. Why? Because among the elements of clarification is the specification of the general, or the specification of the general, is that not so? Because if a general term came and its ruling was not general, and then it was not clarified, and then no evidence came to specify it, would that be clarification of everything? No. Among the elements of the clarification of everything that Allah has clarified is that the Qur'an is a clarification of everything. Among its elements is that it is not possible for a general term to come that has been specified, or that some of its individuals do not fall under this ruling, without something coming to specify it, either by something connected, such as what is connected? Like an exception or a condition, or by something disconnected, or by a reason, or without a reason. So how many categories are there now? Four categories. Every general term does not have its ruling encompass all its individuals, so it is necessary that evidence stands to specify it, either connected or disconnected, or by a reason or without a reason. What is the understanding? What is the evidence for this principle? Because this is a principle we are certain of. The evidence is the saying of Allah the Exalted: and His saying: And among the elements of detailing is the specification of the general. If there is something that specifies it, let us look at the four categories now. Even though we have moved away from this, I always like to address the principles because they are more important than individual issues for the student of knowledge. The general term that has been specified is abundant in the Qur'an and in the Sunnah. Allah the Exalted said: This is general. The specification came: And “And whoever among you turns back from his religion and dies while he is a disbeliever” — this is general, and after it came a restriction: “and dies while he is a disbeliever.” And in the Sunnah also, there is much of this. The connected specific restrictor, this is without a reason. The connected specific restrictor. The connected specific restrictor with a reason, such as the hadith of Ibn 'Abbas regarding the conquest of Makkah, when the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) spoke about the ruling of Makkah and its trees and spoke in general terms: Then al-'Abbas said, “Except the 'idhkhar.” So the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: This is connected with a reason, and not without a reason. This is connected with a reason. What is the reason for this specification? Al-'Abbas's question. The disconnected general term. The general term that was specified by a disconnected evidence for a reason. Allah obligated upon the servants five prayers in every day and night. This is apparent in its beginning, and the apparent generality includes the long day and the short day. And when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) informed his companions that the days of the Dajjal are a day like a year, a day like a month, a day like a week, and the rest of its days are like our days, the implication of the general evidences is that the day that is like a year, how many prayers are required of us? Five prayers. But the Companions asked the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), “Is one prayer sufficient for us in it?” He said: This is a disconnected evidence for a reason. A disconnected evidence without a reason. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: This is general. Why? For the little and the much. It is general for the little and the much. Why? Because it is a relative pronoun, and it is one of the forms of generality. The hadith came from Abu Hurayrah: So this hadith was specified, and it is disconnected, and not disconnected, and for a reason, and not without a reason.