Huruf al-Ma'ani Among the Usuliyyin (The Concept and Function)

Abstract

All praise is due to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon the mercy bestowed, Muhammad ibn Abdullah, and upon his family, companions, and those who follow his path until the Day we meet.

I praise Allah, the Generous, for His immense grace, which has made it possible for me to prepare this research and inspire me to organize and present it in a clear and accessible manner. For there is no way to understand the relationship between huruf al-ma'ani (the letters of meaning) and the science of usul al-fiqh (principles of Islamic jurisprudence) except by comprehending their true nature and examining their subtleties.

I found it fitting to dedicate a separate section to huruf al-ma'ani, as a means of benefit for the reader, especially students of knowledge, hoping that it may serve as a useful resource and be a reward for me after my passing. I ask Allah to make it beneficial and accepted. Indeed, He is the All-Hearing, the Close, the Responsive.

May Allah have mercy on those who view it with fairness, correcting what is accurate and affirming it, those who present and simplify it, overcoming envy with justice, and recognizing the truth and giving it its due. As it has been said: "Know the men by the truth, and do not know the truth by the men."

Huruf al-ma'ani are known as the letters that indicate meaning beyond themselves, a term coined by the grammarians. These letters play a significant role in understanding meanings and deriving rulings from the texts of the Qur’an, whether through ijtihad (independent reasoning) or ta’wil (interpretation). Many semantic issues and jurisprudential matters depend on understanding the meaning conveyed by the letter in a given context. They are called huruf al-ma'ani for this reason, because they connect the meanings of actions and nouns or indicate specific meanings.

There has been much debate among grammarians, scholars of usul al-fiqh, and scholars of kalam (Islamic theology) regarding the functions of these letters in terms of their grammatical rules and their linguistic connotations related to legal rulings and theological beliefs. They are treated like words in general with respect to their meaning, as they may be used either in their literal sense or in metaphorical or other meanings.

In this research, we will discuss the true meaning of huruf al-ma'ani according to the scholars of usul al-fiqh.