Question: It was mentioned in the book The Islamic Personality, Volume 3, page 161, line 8 from the bottom:
"As for the Al-Mushtarakah (shared/homonymous terms), it is like Salah (prayer), as it is applied to the prayer containing the pillars (arkan) such as Dhuhr, and to that which is devoid of bowing (ruku') and prostration (sujud) such as the Janazah (funeral) prayer..." End quote.
It seems as though this differs from the definition of "Al-Mushtarak" mentioned in the explanation on page 136 of the book. This example appears closer to Al-Mushakkikah than to Al-Mushtarakah. I hope for a clarification on this matter, and may Allah reward you with goodness.
Answer: Yes, it is Al-Mushakkikah and not Al-Mushtarakah; meaning the correct phrasing is: "As for the Al-Mushakkikah, it is like Salah...".
Here, a clarification is necessary so that the matter is understood through comprehension rather than mere memorization:
First: Any word can be studied from multiple angles. If it is studied from angle (A), its result will be a specific outcome, and if it is studied from angle (B), its result will be another outcome.
Second: Al-Mushakkik is that which falls between Al-Mushtarak (the homonym) and Al-Mutawati’ (the univocal/concordant):
Al-Mushtarak (The Homonym) is a single word that has more than one meaning, and there is a difference between them, such as the word 'Ain being used for the seeing eye, a water spring, a spy, etc.
Al-Mutawati’ (The Univocal/Concordant) is a single word that has more than one application (meaning), and there is agreement between them from the angle of study, such as applying "human" to Zaid and Amr... there is agreement between them in terms of innate human characteristics.
Al-Mushakkik (The Graded/Ambiguous) is a single word that has more than one application, where there is a difference from one perspective and agreement from another. The observer "doubts" (yashukku) whether it belongs to this perspective or that... this is why it is called Mushakkik.
To further clarify with examples, we say:
Regarding the "First" point, i.e., from the angle of study:
Example of Salah (Prayer)...
If the word is studied in terms of Dhuhr prayer, Asr prayer, and Maghrib prayer... It indicates prayers that are equal in purity (taharah), facing the Qiblah, intention, pillars, and forms... From this angle, the word "Salah" falls under Al-Mutawati’, as every individual "Salah" is equal to the other in these matters.
If it is studied in terms of Dhuhr prayer and Janazah prayer... it indicates prayers that: Agree in one aspect, such as purity, facing the Qiblah, and intention... But differ in another aspect, such as bowing (ruku'), prostration (sujud), and repeated takbirs... Therefore, it falls under the chapter of Al-Mushakkik, because the one looking at the word "Salah" in terms of Dhuhr and Janazah is in doubt regarding its description: does this word belong to the chapter of Al-Mutawati’ in terms of what is agreed upon, or to the chapter of Al-Mushtarak in terms of what is differed upon?
If this word "Salah" is studied in terms of its linguistic "coinage" (wad’), we find that Salah was originally coined for "supplication" (du'a), then it was transferred to the Shar'i meaning and became famous within it. Thus, from this perspective, "Salah" is a Manqul Shar’i (transferred Shar'i term).
If this word "Salah" is studied in terms of clarity (bayan) and obscurity (ijmal), it is "Mujmal" (obscure/summarized) because it requires clarification.
Accordingly, if you were asked what the word "Salah" is, you cannot give a single answer unless the angle of research is added to the question; otherwise, you are compelled to answer from all the perspectives mentioned above.
6th Rabi’ al-Thani 1432 AH 9/3/2011 CE