Discover the meaning of the term Al-nṣ (نص) in Islamic vocabulary.
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Updated on 11 April 2026 at 1:05 AM
📖 3 min readWhat surpasses in clarity the apparent, as to the speaker's meaning; it is the directing of speech for the sake of that meaning; if one says: do good to such a one who rejoices at my joy and grieves at my grief, it is a nass expounding his love.
What admits only one meaning; it is also said: what admits no interpretation.
In language: exaggeration in manifestation. In the usulists of fiqh's usage: what surpasses the apparent in clarity as to a meaning in the speaker, that is, by a meaning it contains, speech being framed for that meaning and it being the aim, without any formula conventionally indicating it; it is understood by the context conjoined to speech: the speaker's aim in the directing, as in the Most High's word: 'Marry then such women as please you: two, three or four', for it is apparent on marriage's lawfulness and a nass expounding the number, speech having been framed for that, as attested by the Most High's word: 'If you fear you will not be equitable, then one'; as when one says: honor such a one who rejoices at my joy and grieves at my grief: it is apparent on honoring and a nass expounding his love.
The nass's origin is the top of a thing and its end; then a manner of swift going was named so. The original formula of speech come from the author. And nass: what admits only one meaning, or admits no interpretation; of this their saying: 'no ijtihad with the nass'; its plural nusus. By the Law: in the Ta'rifat: nass is what surpasses the apparent in clarity as to a meaning in the speaker; it is the directing of speech for that meaning; if one says: 'do good to such a one who rejoices at my joy and grieves at my grief', it is a nass expounding his love.
What surpasses the apparent in clarity as to a meaning in the speaker; it is the directing of speech for that meaning (al-Ta'rifat, p. 260).