who is righteous in the heavens and on earth.” (1) This includes even the angels, the righteous among the jinn, and the followers of the previous prophets.

Does this also include the Prophet’s Companions, peace and blessings be upon him, and his believing family? This depends on the scholars’ disagreement over whether, when a general term is conjoined to a specific one, the specific falls within the general term or is excluded from it by virtue of being specified. There are two views on this. Some say that it falls within it, because the general wording encompasses it. Others say that mentioning it specifically indicates that it is not intended by the general wording. (2)

This disagreement may have implications for certain issues. Those who hold that it falls within the general wording say that the specific category is mentioned twice: once specifically and once generally.

To proceed: ………………

His statement, “To proceed”: this is an expression used when beginning the subject one intends to address.

As for the statement of some that it is an expression used to move from one style of discourse to another, (3) this is incorrect, because scholars constantly move from one style to another without saying, “To proceed.”

As for its grammatical analysis, we say: “ammā” stands in place of a conditional particle and its conditional verb. The implied meaning is: “Whatever there may be after that, this is an abridgment”; thus it is