What does Al-mʿrfa mean?

Islam > Glossary > Al-mʿrfa

Discover the meaning of the term Al-mʿrfa (معرفة) in Islamic vocabulary.

Definition Al-mʿrfa

Al-mʿrfa according to Kitab at-Ta'rifat (Al-Jurjani)

What was instituted to indicate a particular thing: these are the pronouns, proper names, general indefinites, what is known by the lam, and what is annexed to either; and ma'rifa is also the grasping of a thing as it is, preceded by ignorance, unlike 'ilm; hence the True, Most High, is named 'Alim, not 'Arif.

Al-mʿrfa according to Dustur al-'Ulama (Al-Ahmadnagari)

The grasp of the particular, or of the simple thing, absolutely, that is, without a sign; or as 'ilm is the grasp of the universal or the composite. Hence one says: I knew God ('araftu Allah), and one does not say: I knew God ('alimtu Allah). It is also said of the grasp preceded by absence, or of the second of two grasps of one thing when an absence interposes between them: I grasped it first, then doubted of it. And 'ilm is said of the grasp free of these two considerations; hence God is said to be the Knower of knowers; and Sadr al-Shari'a explained ma'rifa as the grasp of particulars by way of a sign; and al-Muhaqqiq al-Taftazani contradicted him in al-Talwih saying: the last restriction is of those with no signification at all, neither in language nor in terminology. End.

Al-mʿrfa according to Mu'jam al-Mustalahat al-Fiqhiyya

In language: a noun from the masdar 'arafa; one says: 'I knew him ('araftu-hu) with 'arfan', with kasra, and with 'irfanan: I made him known by one of the five senses. Technically: the grasping of a thing as it is. The author of the Ta'rifat said: it is preceded by ignorance, unlike 'ilm; hence the True is named the Knower, not the Knower. The author of the Kulliyyat distinguished ma'rifa from 'ilm: ma'rifa is said of the grasp preceded by absence, and 'ilm of the two grasps when an absence interposes between them.

Al-mʿrfa according to Maqalid al-'Ulum (As-Suyuti)

The grasping of the existents' forms.

Al-mʿrfa according to Maqalid al-'Ulum (As-Suyuti)

What was instituted for a thing in particular.

Al-mʿrfa according to At-Tawqif (Al-Munawi)

With the grammarians: what was instituted to indicate a thing in particular; these are the pronouns, proper names and general indefinites, what is known by the lam, and what is annexed to either.

Al-mʿrfa according to At-Ta'rifat al-Fiqhiyya (Al-Barkati)

What was instituted to indicate a thing in particular, and the indefinite (nakira) is its opposite; and ma'rifa is also grasping.

Related terms: Al-mʿrfa