Moreover, one must also distinguish between the meaning of an unqualified designation when one simply says, “an unbeliever” or “a believer,” and the full, unrestricted sense of the term in every instance—such as in his ﷺ words, “Do not revert after me to unbelief, striking (2) one another’s necks (3).”(1)

The clause “striking one another’s necks” clarifies what is meant by “unbelievers” in that context; those involved are described as unbelievers with a restricted, situational designation and therefore are not encompassed by the absolute use of the terms “unbeliever” and “believer.”(4)

The same principle applies to the Almighty’s words, “from a gushing fluid” (86:6)(5): here semen is called “water” in a qualified sense, yet it is not included in the unrestricted use of the word in His statement, “But if you find no water, then perform tayammum” (5:6).(6)