What does Tasalsul mean?

Islam > Glossary > Tasalsul

Discover the meaning of the term Tasalsul (تسلسل) in Islamic vocabulary.

Updated on 11 April 2026 at 1:05 AM

📖 2 min read

Definition Tasalsul

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

It is infinite matters’ ordering; its kinds four: being not hidden; either among singles joined in existence, or not, as tasalsoul in adveneds; the first with ordering or not; the second as tasalsoul in rational souls; the first that ordering natural, as tasalsoul in causes and effects, attributes and described, or positional, as tasalsoul in bodies; the impossible with the last sage, besides the first two.

Tasalsul according to Mufradat (Ar-Raghib)

It is either among singles joined in existence, or not.

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

Said: the tasallasal water: flowed down slopes. As a term: infinite matters’ ordering joined in existence; its fallaciousness proved varied arguments, as the application-argument and ladder-argument and others. Solidest and firmest, as said, its nullity, infinite ordered joined matters exposed to the absolute number; doubling that number on its like by synthetical mental doubling, the doubling’s number necessarily exceeds the origin-number added on; any two numbers one exceeding other; the exceeder’s accretion conceived only after exhausting all individuals added on: no accretion conceived on the beginning, else no beginning remains, contradiction. The intermediaries ordered successive: had the added-on been infinite, accretion demanded from limitlessness’ nonexistence side, fallacious, accretion conceived only after limit; number’s limit demands the counted’s limit. Also doubling among finite numbers’ properties: positing it infinite matters an impossible positing: may demand other impossibilities, namely the infinite’s limit.

Tasalsul according to At-Tawqif (Al-Munawi)

Infinite matters’ ordering.

Related terms: Tasalsul

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