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The usul al-fiqh prompt is specialized for translating Islamic legal theory (usul al-fiqh) - works on jurisprudential methodology, epistemology, and the principles underlying legal rulings.

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What It’s For

Use the usul al-fiqh prompt when translating:
  • Legal theory manuals (Risalah, Mustasfa, Rawdah, etc.)
  • Texts on qiyas (analogical reasoning), ijma’ (consensus), naskh (abrogation)
  • Works debating hermeneutical principles
  • Books with objection/reply structures
  • Methodological disputes between legal schools
The usul al-fiqh prompt is automatically stacked on top of the master prompt. It extends fiqh rules with specialized epistemological terminology.

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Access the Usul al-Fiqh Prompt

import { getPrompt } from 'wobble-bibble';

const usulPrompt = getPrompt('usul_al_fiqh');
console.log(usulPrompt.name); // "Usul Al Fiqh"
console.log(usulPrompt.content); // Master + usul rules combined

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Argument Structure Preservation

Usul texts follow dialectical patterns. Preserve the structure:
PatternArabicEnglish
Claimالقول / الأصلThe position / The principle
Objectionفإن قيل / إن قال قائلIf it is said / If someone says
Replyقلنا / فالجوابWe say / The answer is
Evidenceالدليل / الحجةThe evidence / The proof
Counter-evidenceالاعتراضThe objection

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Example

Source: 
فصل: الأمر يقتضي الوجوب.
فإن قيل: قد يرد الأمر للندب.
قلنا: الأصل في الأمر الوجوب إلا بقرينة.
Output: 
Section: The command (amr) entails obligation.
If it is said: The command may indicate recommendation.
We say: The default for the command is obligation unless there is contextual evidence.

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Structural Labels

Preserve explicit Arabic structural markers as plain English equivalents:
ArabicEnglish LabelUsage
فصلSection:Major divisions
مسألةIssue:Individual questions
قالHe said:Quotations
قيلIt was said:Opposing views
قلناWe say:Author’s position
Only use labels when the Arabic explicitly contains them. Do not insert structural markers into narrative text.

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Usul Technical Terms

Always define technical terms on first occurrence using translit (English) format:

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Linguistic Categories

ArabicTransliterationEnglish
عامʿāmmgeneral
خاصkhāṣṣspecific
مطلقmuṭlaqabsolute
مقيدmuqayyadrestricted
أمرamrcommand
نهيnahyprohibition

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Semantic Categories

ArabicTransliterationEnglish
حقيقةḥaqīqahliteral
مجازmajāzfigurative
مجملmujmalambiguous
مبيّنmubayyanclarified
نصnaṣṣexplicit text
ظاهرẓāhirapparent

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Implication Types

ArabicTransliterationEnglish
مفهومmafhūmimplication
منطوقmanṭūqstated meaning
دلالةdalālahindication
تنبيهtanbīhallusion

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Reasoning Methods

ArabicTransliterationEnglish
قياسqiyāsanalogical reasoning
علةʿillaheffective cause
سببsababcause
شرطshartcondition
مانعmāniʿpreventer
إجماعijmāʿconsensus
نسخnaskhabrogation

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Example

Wrong: “The command indicates obligation”
Right: “The amr (command) indicates obligation (wujūb)“

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Dispute Handling

Usul texts often present methodological disagreements between schools:

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Do Not Resolve

Unless the Arabic text explicitly chooses a position (using terms like al-rājiḥ, al-aṣaḥḥ, or ṣaḥīḥ), do not resolve the dispute. Preserve all positions.
Example: Source: 
اختلف العلماء: فقال الشافعي: الأمر للوجوب. وقال أبو حنيفة: قد يكون للندب.
Output: 
The scholars disagreed: Al-Shāfiʿī said: The amr (command) is for obligation (wujūb). Abū Ḥanīfah said: It may be for recommendation (nadb).

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Attribution Preservation

Maintain attributions to specific scholars or schools:
  • قال الشافعي → “Al-Shāfiʿī said”
  • مذهب الحنفية → “The madhhab of the Ḥanafīs”
  • عند المالكية → “According to the Mālikīs”

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Quranic and Hadith References

When usul texts cite Quran or hadith:

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Verse References

Keep the segment’s citation style. Do not invent references: Source: قال تعالى: {وأقيموا الصلاة}
Output: He, exalted is He, said: {And establish prayer} If the source includes a verse number, preserve it. If not, don’t add it.

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Hadith Isnads

If a hadith chain appears, follow master prompt isnad rules:
  • Full ALA-LC for narrator names
  • Translate transmission verbs (ḥaddathanā, akhbaranā, etc.)
Example: Source: 
روى البخاري عن ابن عمر أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: "الأمور بمقاصدها"
Output: 
Al-Bukhārī reported from Ibn ʿUmar that the Prophet ﷺ said: "Actions are by intentions."

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When to Use

✅ Use usul_al_fiqh prompt for:
  • Legal theory manuals
  • Books on qiyas, ijma’, and naskh
  • Methodological dispute texts
  • Hermeneutical principle works
  • Epistemology of Islamic law
❌ Don’t use for:
  • Practical legal rulings → Use fiqh
  • Fatwa Q&A → Use fatawa
  • Mixed scholarly works → Use encyclopedia_mixed

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Common Pitfalls

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1. English-only Terms

❌ Wrong: “The command indicates obligation”
✅ Right: “The amr (command) indicates wujūb (obligation)“

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2. Resolving Unresolved Disputes

❌ Wrong: “The correct view is that amr means obligation”
✅ Right: “Some say amr means obligation; others say it may mean recommendation”

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3. Inventing Structure Labels

❌ Wrong: Adding “Issue:” when Arabic has narrative text
✅ Right: Only use labels when Arabic has explicit markers (مسألة, فصل, etc.)

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4. Omitting Technical Term Definitions

❌ Wrong: “The ʿāmm is restricted by the khāṣṣ” (undefined terms)
✅ Right: “The ʿāmm (general) is restricted by the khāṣṣ (specific)“

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5. Adding Verse Numbers

❌ Wrong: Adding [2:43] when source doesn’t include it
✅ Right: Only include citations present in the Arabic

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Example Output

Input segment: 
P678 - فصل: في القياس
مسألة: القياس حجة عند الجمهور. فإن قيل: القياس ظني فلا يصلح دليلاً. قلنا: الظن معتبر في الفروع. والدليل قوله تعالى: {فاعتبروا}.
Expected output: 
P678 - Section: On Qiyās
Issue: Qiyās (analogical reasoning) is a valid proof (ḥujjah) according to the majority. If it is said: Qiyās is probabilistic (ẓannī) and thus not suitable as evidence (dalīl). We say: Probability is considered valid in subsidiary matters (furūʿ). The evidence is His statement, exalted is He: {So take a lesson}.

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Integration with Validation

import { getPrompt, validateTranslationResponse } from 'wobble-bibble';

const prompt = getPrompt('usul_al_fiqh');

// Send prompt.content to LLM...
const llmOutput = "P678 - Section: On Qiyās...";

// Validate the response
const validation = validateTranslationResponse(llmOutput, sourceSegments);

if (!validation.isValid) {
  console.error('Validation errors:', validation.errors);
}

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Relationship to Other Prompts

Usul al-fiqh shares concepts with:
  • Fiqh prompt: Legal categorization, madhab attribution
  • Hadith prompt: When citing hadith evidence
  • Encyclopedia mixed prompt: For works blending usul with other genres
If a text mixes usul theory with practical fiqh rulings, consider using encyclopedia_mixed.

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Next Steps

Fiqh Prompt

Practical legal rulings derived from usul principles

Encyclopedia Mixed

For works mixing usul with other genres

Validation Guide

Learn how outputs are validated

Prompt API

Complete prompt management API reference

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