As for your statement, “The initial wording must either apparently convey one of the two meanings or admit either,” we reply:
Before it is complete, it cannot be described in any of the three ways; it can only be described as capable of bearing the three meanings. Nor can this be called a departure from the apparent meaning at all, for speech that is not yet complete has no apparent meaning. Its apparent meaning is what emerges once the speaker has finished.
This reveals the source of the error concerning the generality of the initial wording. His statement, “For my children, then for their children,” unquestionably includes all his grandchildren, so none of them may be excluded. It also entails an order of succession, placing the children before the grandchildren. But what kind of generality is this? Is it explanatory and distributive generality, pairing each individual with one individual? Or is it collective generality, pairing each individual with every individual?
Anyone who claims that the wording explicitly conveys this latter meaning, in the sense of being unequivocal, is ignorant of revealed evidence and the rulings of Islamic law, and departs from the natural paths of reason. If someone acknowledges that the wording admits both meanings but maintains that one is more likely when the statement ends there, we do not dispute with him, for that is not the question under discussion. But if he disputes the greater likelihood of the first meaning after that appended clause, he too is certainly mistaken.
Like the first argument, this argument holds for both those who accept implied meaning as evidence and those who reject it. For the latter say:
“The unmentioned case is not included in the second statement. But if it is included in the first, I apply that statement to it. We concede that when it is considered most likely, or is known, that there is no reason for singling out the specified case other than to restrict the ruling to it, the implied meaning constitutes evidence.”
Thus, when he considers the statement: