a general expression may become particular through established usage. Moreover, this rests on the principle of contrary implication: singling something out for mention alongside a general expression that entails general applicability indicates that the ruling is particular to it. Thus, when He singled out the passage concerning the woman who offered herself by expressly mentioning exclusivity, this indicated that the remaining cases were not exclusive to him. Their lack of exclusivity is indicated precisely by the absence of any mention of exclusivity while permission is affirmed for the Messenger, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. It follows that affirming permission for him without restricting it to him entails general applicability.

Accordingly, an address whose linguistic form is particular falls into three categories.

First, it may indicate general applicability, as with expressions that are general by established usage, such as an address to the Messenger or to an individual member of the community. The same applies to the implicit indication conveyed by the wording, as in the saying, “I will not drink your water, even when thirsty,” and the expressions “a grain’s weight,” “a large sum,” and “a dinar.”

Second, it may indicate that the ruling applies exclusively to what is mentioned and not to anything else. This is the case with contrary implication when grounds for general applicability are present, yet one category is singled out for mention.

Third, its wording may indicate neither of these, but general applicability may then be established through its underlying meaning, whether by analogy with a case having an even stronger claim to the ruling or by other forms of analogy,