then that is the position of those who deny generality—those who suspend judgment and those who restrict its scope—an absurd position that has not been openly professed. If, however, it does not preclude arguing from generality, then these are empty words. At most, one could say that general expressions have weaker evidentiary force than other expressions with an apparent meaning. Yet even this is not conceded, for unless evidence establishing a qualification is forthcoming, one must act upon the general expression.

Second: Who has conceded to you that an unqualified general expression, for which no qualifying evidence has appeared, constitutes weak evidence? Who has conceded that most general expressions are qualified? Or who says that every general expression has been qualified except His words, “He has knowledge of all things”? Although some eminent scholars versed in jurisprudence may make this sweeping statement, and it may occur in the writings of some who discuss the principles of jurisprudence, it is among the falsest and most unsound of statements.

Presumably, whoever first said this meant only that the generality conveyed by the expression “all things” is qualified except in a few instances, as in His words:

“Destroying all things.”

“She has been given of all things.”

“We opened for them the gates of all things.”

Otherwise, what rational person would make this claim about every form expressing generality in the Quran and Sunnah, in all the other Books of Allah and the speech of His prophets, and in the speech of all nations, Arab and non-Arab alike?

If you read the Quran from beginning to end, you will find that most of its general expressions retain their full scope and are not qualified. This holds whether you mean the generality of a plural expression encompassing its individual members, of a whole encompassing its parts, or of a universal encompassing its particular instances.

Consider His words:

“All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds.”

Can you find anyone among the worlds whose Lord is not Allah?

“Sovereign of the Day of Recompense.”

Is there anything on the Day of Recompense that is not under the dominion of