reality, and that the specific case was not intended by the speaker’s general wording. Thus, the specific evidence clarifies what was not intended by the general wording, as in His words:

“Allah instructs you concerning your children.” [al-Nisā’: 11]

The Sunnah clarifies that a disbeliever, a slave, and a killer are not included in this. This is according to those who consider the wording general enough to encompass these categories.

Those who say that wording is general with respect to persons but unrestricted with respect to circumstances maintain that the verse encompasses every child, but does not specify the circumstances in which a child inherits or those in which a child does not inherit. Rather, these are clarified in other texts.

They say that the Quran’s wording retains its general scope, while the conditions and impediments about which it is silent are clarified in other texts. They take the same approach to His words:

“The male thief and the female thief.” [al-Mā’idah: 38]

The same applies to other Quranic passages with general wording or apparent meanings. They do not say that the wording is set aside; rather, they say that what the wording leaves unmentioned is clarified in other texts.

They distinguish between those whom the wording encompasses and the circumstances concerning them about which it is silent: with respect to those circumstances, the wording is unrestricted, not general.

If the words of Allah and His Messenger contain an expression requiring clarification, or one with an apparent meaning, and its meaning is explained and clarified by another passage, whether connected to it or separate from it, this does not constitute a departure from the words of Allah and His Messenger, nor is there any fault or deficiency in it, as in the hadith