Universals (Al-Kulli) and Particulars (Al-Juzei) in Ibn Taimiyyah and their Influence on Some of his Jurisprudential Judgements

Abstract

This research discusses Ibn Taimiyyah’s methodology in knowledge acquisition as he claims that useful knowledge is acquired from actual particulars in reality, outside the mind. While universals remain forms of mental assumptions unless they are linked to the particulars in the real world. As such, knowledge, in his view, should be acquired starting from the particulars and moving to the universals, so that an epistemological interaction between the universals and particulars can occur.

The researcher deals with some of the jurisprudential universal issues which are based on this methodology. He also shows the influence of this methodology on Ibn Taimiyyah’s selections when studying such issues.