استعمالات حرفي "الواو" و "الفاء" من حروف المعاني وأثرها على الأحكام الفقهية

THE USES OF THE PARTICLES "AL-WĀW" AND "AL-FĀ'" AS SEMANTIC PARTICLES AND THEIR IMPACT ON JURISPRUDENTIAL RULINGS

Abstract

While the study of particles (hurūf) traditionally falls within the domain of Arabic syntax (nahw), Islamic legal theorists (usūliyyūn) have customarily examined specific aspects of these particles to address juridical needs. This research focuses specifically on the semantic functions of the conjunctive particles "al-wāw" (و) and "al-fā'" (ف) and their direct impact on the derivation of Islamic legal rulings.

Employing an inductive-analytical methodology, this study examines primary religious texts—the Qur'an and Hadith—alongside the classical works of Islamic legal theory to investigate how differing interpretations of these particles' meanings lead to substantive differences in applied jurisprudence. The research highlights that scholarly disagreement (ikhtilāf) regarding whether "al-wāw" denotes simple conjunction, temporal sequence, or simultaneity—and whether "al-fā'" indicates sequence with immediate succession or admits broader interpretation—directly affects rulings in critical areas such as divorce formulae, oath-taking, and contractual stipulations

Key research objectives include establishing the importance of semantic particles within Islamic legal theory, elucidating the various linguistic functions of "al-wāw" and "al-fā'", demonstrating the practical juridical consequences of interpretive disagreements, and presenting preponderant (rājih) opinions regarding their primary meanings based on textual evidence. The findings underscore the indispensable relationship between precise linguistic analysis and accurate juristic deduction (ijtihād) in Islamic law.