Page:Thomas Patrick Hughes - Notes on Muhammadanism - 2ed. (1877).djvu/52

 Rh ʾIlm-i-Usúl, or the Exegesis of the Qurán, is a science, some knowledge of which is absolutely necessary to enable the Christian controversialist to meet a Muhammadan opponent. It is used by the Muslim divine to explain away many apparent or real contradictions which exist in the Qurán, and it is also available for a similar purpose when rightly used by the Christian in explanation of the exegesis of his own sacred books.

The words (alfáz) of the Qurán are of four classes:—Kháss, ʾAmm, Mushtarak, and Muawwal.

(1) Kháss, Words used in a special sense. These are of three kinds:—Khusús-ul-jins, Special genus; Khusús-un-nauʾ, Special species; Khusús-ul-ʾain, Special individuality.

(2) ʾAmm, Collective or common, which embrace many individuals or things.

(3) Mushtarak, Complex words which have several significations; e.g. ʾain, a word which