The Arabic Language and Its Role in Usūlī Signification and the Identification of Maqāṣid al-Sharīʿah

Abstract

 Abstract:

This study seeks to examine the role of the Arabic language in the construction of usūlī (legal-theoretical) signification and its function as a means of uncovering the objectives of Islamic law (maqāṣid al-sharīʿah). It highlights the influence of Arabic linguistic structures on the understanding of religious discourse, the derivation of legal rulings, and their proper application, thereby demonstrating the central importance of the Arabic language within the Islamic legal tradition. The study first investigates the status of the Arabic language in the construction of usūlī signification, showing that it constitutes the primary foundation for comprehending religious texts, a necessary prerequisite for attaining the qualifications of ijtihād, and a governing framework for legal reasoning through linguistic categories such as generality and specificity, absoluteness and restriction, and literal and figurative usage, thus ensuring a sound transition from textual evidence to legal judgment.

The study then examines the function of the Arabic language in uncovering the objectives of Islamic law by exploring the relationship between the objectives of the Lawgiver and linguistic signification in the thought of Imām al-Shāṭibī, as well as the role of linguistic convention (ʿurf lughawī) in determining the Lawgiver’s intent. It emphasizes that the intended meaning of a legal text cannot be adequately understood through its outward wording alone, but rather through careful consideration of linguistic context and the universal objectives of the Sharīʿah. The study concludes that the Arabic language constitutes the primary methodological framework for understanding religious discourse and that neglecting its rules and modes of expression leads to deficiencies in signification and legal inference. It further demonstrates that sound ijtihād depends upon adequate linguistic competence, which safeguards against misinterpretation and unwarranted extrapolation from the texts. Moreover, the findings reveal that understanding religious discourse and identifying its objectives require an integrated consideration of four essential elements: the text, the speaker, the addressee, and the context of discourse. Proper comprehension of these elements can only be achieved through a thorough command of the Arabic language and its semantic dimensions. Accordingly, the study recommends restoring due emphasis to linguistic training as a fundamental requirement of contemporary ijtihād, given its crucial role in ensuring sound understanding and accurate legal reasoning.

Keywords: Arabic Language; Usūlī Signification; Maqāṣid al-Sharīʿah; Ijtihād