What does Al-mfsr mean?

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Discover the meaning of the term Al-mfsr (مفسر) in Islamic vocabulary.

Definition Al-mfsr

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

What gained in clarity over the text, such that no possibility of restriction remains in it if it is general, nor of interpretation if it is specific; this implies the text admits both, as the zahir does, in: 'fa-sajada l-mala'ikatu kulluhum ajma'un' (the angels prostrated, all together): mala'ika is a general name admitting restriction, as in 'wa-idh qalati l-mala'ikatu ya Maryam' (and when the angels said: O Maryam), the intended one being Gabriel (peace be upon him); by 'kulluhum' (all) the possibility of restriction ceased, but that of interpretation and of taking them as dispersed remained; by 'ajma'un' (together) that possibility ceased, and it became mufassir.

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

It is the discourse whose clarity increased over that of the text, such that no possibility of restriction remains in it if it is general, nor of interpretation if it is specific. This implies the text admits restriction and interpretation, like the zahir, and that its clarity increased over the zahir's. It was called mufassir because it is derived from tafsir, which is uncovering. As no near or remote possibility remains in that discourse, it became mufassir, uncovered, free of obscurity, as in: 'fa-sajada l-mala'ikatu kulluhum ajma'un'. The Most High's saying 'fa-sajada l-mala'ikatu' is zahir as to the prostration of all the angels and admits restriction and the intending of some, as in 'wa-idh qalati l-mala'ikatu ya Maryam', that is, Gabriel. By 'kulluhum' that possibility ceased, and the text became a nass through its clarity's increase over the first, yet admits interpretation and the reading of dispersion; by 'ajma'un' that possibility ceased, and it became mufassir, the possibility having departed from the utterance in its universality. If it is said: the text yields certain knowledge; how does it admit restriction and interpretation? We answer: it admits them with a possibility not arising from an indication but a rational one, which does not impair its yielding of certain knowledge.

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

In language: the name of the uncovered, intended zahir; derived from fasr, inverted from safar, meaning manifestation and unveiling; one says: 'safarat al-mar'atu': when she unveiled her face; and 'asfara s-subh': when dawn shone in full light. With the jurists, in 'At-Ta'rifat': the mufassir is what gained in clarity over the text, such that no possibility of restriction remains in it if it is general, nor of interpretation if specific; this implies the text admits both, like the zahir, as in: 'fa-sajada l-mala'ikatu kulluhum ajma'un'.

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

What gained in clarity such that no possibility of restriction remains in it if general, nor of interpretation if specific.

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

What gained in clarity over the text, such that no possibility of restriction remains in it if general, nor of interpretation if specific.

Related terms: Al-mfsr